Tories fail to recruit sufficient troops as they shut Armed Forces profession places of work
The Tories have closed two thirds of Armed Forces careers offices even though they are failing to recruit enough soldiers, sailors and marines.
In 2010, there were 156 military recruitment offices across the country. But after 14 years of Conservative cuts, ministers have admitted that just 40 remain open. Armed Forces careers offices are a visible presence on high streets for people thinking of signing up to defend Britain by joining the Army, Navy or RAF.
Since 2010, the Government has missed its own recruitment targets every year, with 24,000 fewer soldiers, 4,000 fewer sailors, and over 2,000 fewer Royal Marines signed up than needed.
Labour’s Shadow Defence Secretary John Healey said: “These figures are the latest proof of the Tories’ total failure in Armed Forces recruitment. The Conservatives have created this Forces recruitment crisis, which is failing those who want to serve this country and defend us all.
“Since 2010, Conservative Ministers have failed in defence – hollowing out and underfunding our Armed Forces, cutting the British Army to its smallest size since Napoleon and missing their own recruitment targets every year.
“Labour will ensure Britain is better defended. In Government, we will overhaul military recruitment, tackle the shameful state of military housing and legislate for an independent Armed Forces Commissioner as a strong voice to improve service life for our Forces and their Families.”
Dr Andrew Murrison, the Defence Minister in charge of recruitment, said that the careers offices “provide core support to the Armed Forces’ national recruiting activities and are complemented by dedicated call centres and online recruiting operations, ensuring that everyone within the UK, no matter their location, have the same opportunity to join the Armed Forces as anyone else”.
He added: “In addition, the Services conduct outreach engagement programmes across the whole of the UK, delivering events such as career fairs and roadshows, supported by web-based information services and social media campaigns. These recruitment activities are further supported through strategic partnerships such as with JobCentrePlus, who provide additional face-to-face touchpoints with potential Armed Forces applicants.”
A Ministry of Defence spokesman said: “Our Armed Forces continue to meet their operational commitments and we continue to invest in recruitment and retention, including improving career opportunities and making it easier for people to re-join. Career Offices are run alongside dedicated call centres and online recruiting, with each Service running their own career fairs, roadshows and social media campaigns.”
