South-East to lose 10,000 jobs in defence cuts

Defence cuts will mean thousands of jobs going in London and the South-East.

Losses of regiments, ships, aircraft and bases amounting to 20,500 jobs were announced in July. Now a "technical note" on the Ministry of Defence website reveals that up to 10,000 posts in the South-East will be moved or lost altogether. The document reveals:

The MoD admits the manpower-reductions will save ?400 million - less than the cost of nine of the controversial Eurofighter aircraft. Britain is ordering 232 Eurofighters with a total price tag of ?16 billion.

"This figure is deeply depressing," said the commanding officer of one infantry regiment certain to be merged in the cuts.

"So much damage is being done for the sake of saving what is a very small amount of money in a defence budget of ?25 billion." Relocations are predicted to save ?100 million, and the changes announced in July - including the scrapping of 12 Royal Navy ships and dozens of RAF aircraft - will save a further ?250 million.

The document also reveals further delays to vital equipment programmes, including the intended replacement for Warrior armoured vehicles.