Former Navy Chief Warns of Maritime Threat to UK Security

An ex-Navy leader has urged the UK government to increase funds for all three branches of the armed forces and not ignore the maritime danger to the country's security.

According to Lord Alan West of Spithead, who served as First Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval Staff from 2002 to 2006, the British Army, Royal Navy, and RAF have long suffered from inadequate funding.

In response to comments from an American general that the UK was no longer a top-tier combat force, defence secretary Ben Wallace said on Monday that the Army had been "hollowed out."

Lord West told the House of Lords, "No matter how it's dressed up, it is pretty evident that we have underfunded our Armed Forces and that they are hollowed out — because even the government's recognised it, the Secretary of State's said it.

"May I question the minister, will we make sure that the spending on all three programmes truly increases?

"Since there is no question that there is a marine threat as well, despite the fact that the Army receives a lot of attention.

"One looks at the underwater cables, one looks at the enormous growth in the Russian submarine fleet," and concludes that all three services need to be examined and that immediate investment is imperative.