Britain's military ability threatened by funding crisis

A group of British military top brass and leading academics issued a stark warning to the British government Wednesday over a funding crisis they claim is threatening Britain's ability to fight wars.

The unprecedented intervention has come during the current general election campaign in a joint letter delivered to 10 Downing Street.

A copy of the letter appears Wednesday in the London-based Times newspaper.

The newspaper reports that the letter was delivered to Downing Street through the Conservative party headquarters by James Glancy, 34, a former Royal Marines captain who earned the second highest award for gallantry in combat in Afghanistan in 2013.

The Times added it marks the first public intervention by the military in the election campaign, and comes as Prime Minister Theresa May prepares to meet Jens Stoltenberg, NATO secretary-general, at No 10 on Wednesday.

In their stark warning, the signatories say: "The newly elected prime minister will be confronted with the need for a brutally honest appreciation of the budget for and capabilities of the UK's armed forces."

The signatories, claiming the last review was weakened by budgetary infighting, make the plea: "Let us not go down that devious political path again. The solution is simple, fund the review properly and if this means a commitment to increase expenditure over the lifetime of the parliament, then do it.

"There can be no better foundation for a future which demands an outward looking and globally trading United Kingdom," they said.

The Times produces a chart, based on statistics from various official sources, detailing the manpower of the military.

It says in 2010 the strength of the regular army was 108,900, and in 2017 it is 79,440. The Royal Navy, Royal Marines and Royal Air Force have lost more than 13,000 personnel since 2010.