Express & Star

Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson denies 'guns on tractors' claim

Gavin Williamson has denied claims he suggested putting guns on tractors as he insisted he was focused on fighting for extra funding for the military.

Published
The South Staffordshire MP was appointed Defence Secretary in November

The Defence Secretary has hit back over criticisms that he had 'lost the plot' and was plunging Britain's armed forces into crisis through a series of 'crackpot schemes' to solve an equipment shortfall.

The comments in The Sun were attributed to an unnamed source, and said that the South Staffordshire MP wanted to mount weapons on tractors, disguise mobile missile systems as Coca-Cola lorries, and transform old commercial ferries into beach assault craft.

Mr Williamson has today laughed off the claims and said containerised missile systems were already a 'military reality', while his allies insisted he was doing 'a fantastic job' in battling for more cash for the armed forces.

The Defence Secretary told the Express & Star: "We have never considered putting guns on tractors. We are looking at how we invest in new shipping and new concepts.

"We already have containerised missile systems, they are available around the globe. It is something that is used by all military.

"We just launched the new Land Ceptor missiles, which is a containerised missile system, which means you can drive it around the country.

"These are things which are not fanciful, they are actually a military reality."

The Sun's front page branded Mr Williamson the 'minister of silly wars'.

Mr Williamson has already successfully landed an extra £800 million funding boost from the Treasury, but he believes the department needs £2 billion more a year just to keep the armed forces at their present size and avoid the need for damaging cuts.

"The thing I have always been completely committed to is getting the very best for our armed forces and making sure they have the money they need in order to keep this country safe," he added.

Eddie Hughes, the Conservative MP for Walsall North, said Mr Williamson should only ever be judged on what he says publicly.

"Everything I have seen from him from the despatch box tells me that he is doing a fantastic job in fighting for much-deserved funding for our armed forces," he added.

Mr Williamson, who was appointed as Defence Secretary by Theresa May in November, has also been backed by local Tory members.

Barry Bond, chairman of the South Staffordshire Conservative Association, said: "Gavin has been extremely supportive of the armed forces since he took over as Defence Secretary and he continues to have the full backing of constituents and the association.

"It is no secret that he is trying to get the funding that all branches of the armed forces so richly deserve. He is going out of his way to do a good job and most people respect him for that."

Mr Williamson's call for extra military funding is set to come to a head in the coming months.

A review into the department's spending was launched in January, and the Defence Secretary remains hopeful of persuading the Prime Minister and Chancellor Philip Hammond to sign off on a bumper multi-year settlement.