Reckless Government cost-cutting has left the Royal Navy "bloodied, battered and on the ropes", it is claimed today.


Shadow Defence Minister Julian Lewis warns that budgets have been slashed, promises left unfulfilled and morale has been devastated in the face of major hostilities in Iraq and Afghanistan.

In a scathing attack on the Government's ten-year record, Dr Lewis said the Royal Navy had been "betrayed" by ministers "inflicting massive damage to the front line instead of augmenting it".

Warships had been axed and the timetable to replace them "abandoned in all but name".

Writing exclusively for the WMN, Dr Lewis declared: "There is only one rationale for the devastation brought by the Government to the size of the Royal Navy - money."

He said the ongoing Naval Base Review - putting the future of Devonport Dockyard in Plymouth under threat - was the "next step in this betrayal" with the potential closure of one of the UK's three bases............

http://www.thisiscornwall.co.uk/disp...entPK=16548970

Our armed forces are slowly being destroyed by the Labour government. Its a ********* disgrace.