Defence review 'no excuse for cuts'
Further changes to the defence budget must be carefully considered and 'not an excuse to make cuts' a Labour shadow minister and former soldier has said.
Dan Jarvis spoke to the Express & Star as he visited the Cadet Force at Ellowes Hall Sports College in Dudley.
Ellowes Hall is one of only a few comprehensive schools across the country that runs its own detachment of the Army Cadet Force.
Students complete training in activities such as first aid and shooting and take part in weekend camps and expeditions.
Mr Jarvis also visited Gornal British Legion to meet veterans alongside Labour MP for Dudley North, Ian Austin.
He is shadow minister for justice and served in the Parachute Regiment, rising the rank of Major across campaigns in Kosovo, Northern Ireland, Sierra Leone, Iraq and Afghanistan.
He praised the school's cadets scheme saying: "It's incredibly impressive.
"As someone who has been in the army for a number of years I can't recall seeing a cadet force like it in any other school."
Concerns have been raised that defence cuts have rendered Britain unable to respond to threats from Russia.
Former army head General Sir Peter Wall said that the 10 per cent drop in defence spending meant the UK and its allies had been 'caught napping' over the threat from Russia as well as the rise of the so called Islamic State.
Mr Jarvis said: "We have to look very carefully at how we can respond to threats.
"We must get this right. A review of defence cannot be an excuse to make cuts in the way previous reviews have been."
Mr Austin said: "As a former army officer, Dan understands the importance of supporting the military better than anyone.
"It's a great privilege to introduce him to the Cadet Force at Ellowes Hall and to local veterans at the Gornal British Legion.
"We owe those who have served in the armed forces an enormous debt of gratitude for fighting to uphold British values of democracy, freedom, fairness, equality and tolerance."
