The Ministry of Defence has been accused of ‘driving taxpayers around the bend’ after blowing millions of pounds on taxis and chauffeurs.
Figures uncovered by MailOnline have revealed Britain’s cash-strapped military has spent £2,095,730.19 on vehicles to shuttle troops and civil servants around.
The splurge on cabs was spent during the 2023/24 financial year and has been branded a ‘pointless waste’ of cash by campaigners.
News of the MoD’s travel bill comes as military chiefs continue to try plug a staggering £29billion financial black hole in defence spending.
Meanwhile the British Army is set to shrink to its smallest size in 230 years, with troop numbers soon predicted to dip below 70,000 for the first time since 1793.
The cash spent on taxis could have paid the annual salaries of 83 Privates in the British Army, who earn £25,200.
The MoD spent more than £2million on taxis and chauffeurs, figures show (stock image)
The amount spent on transport could have paid the annual salaries of more than 80 soldiers with the rank of Private (file picture of British Army troops on exercise in Salisbury)
The news comes after Labour warned the number of troops in the army could dip below 70,000 for the first time in 230 years (file image of Prime Minister Kier Starmer with troops at Salisbury in August 2022)
Colonel Philip Ingram has warned the UK is facing a ‘1938 moment’ and must properly invest in its military
Colonel Philip Ingram, a former British intelligence officer, blasted the spending, telling MailOnline: ‘Virtually all activities across defence are not delivered in a cost effective way, wasting taxpayers’ money as there is zero accountability for wasteful practices. This must be addressed.
‘The method is not to cut the size of our military but to bring in accountability and hold people personally responsible for wasteful decisions and practices. Defence could save billions by doing this.’
He added: ‘Cutting the size of any arm of the military would send the wrong message to our potential enemies at a time of growing instability and would send a shockingly bad message to our allies who are increasing their defence spending and size of their military’s given the growing international tensions.
‘We are in a 1938 moment – it isn’t peace in our time – we need to be growing our military capability rapidly.’
The latest information was revealed in a freedom of information (FoI) request by MailOnline.
The money was spent as part of the MoD’s Phoenix II vehicle contract.
In its FoI response to MailOnline, the MoD said that ‘as a large organisation with remote sites across the UK and bases around the world, our staff need to travel to locations that are not always accessible by public transport’.
It added: ‘All travel bookings by MoD civil servants and military personnel must be confirmed as essential and authorised by a manager to ensure the request is valid and represents value for money.’
It’s understood that some of the staff operating as chauffeurs are ex-military personnel who are highly trained. They provide transport for ministers and high-ranking officials.
The amount spent on taxi and chauffeur journeys was revealed in a freedom of information request by MailOnline (file image of the MoD’s sign at its base in Whitehall, London)
While taxi journeys can cover more routine transport for soldiers going between bases, should other vehicles be unavailable.
A previous study revealed that in 2022, the MoD had spent £16.6million on hire cars for staff, up from £12.9million the year before.
Reacting to the most recent splurge on taxis and chauffeurs, William Yarwood, media campaign manager at the TaxPayers’ Alliance told MailOnline: ‘Taxpayers will be driven round the bend by this pointless waste.
‘While the MoD complains about vast funding gaps and attempts to plug its various financial black holes, it is crucial that they make every penny count.
‘Instead of hitching a ride, MoD bosses should declare a war on waste.’
Tory shadow Armed Forces Minister Mark Francois said: ‘Given that Labour persistently refuse to name a date by which they will spend 2.5 per cent of GDP on our Defence, every pound the MoD spends really matters – including taxi fares. A pound spent on that is a pound we cannot spend on ammunition or other key requirements.’
An MoD spokesman told MailOnline: ‘As the Chancellor has said, the Government has inherited public finances which are much worse than expected.
‘This Government is committed to securing value for money for taxpayers, cracking down on waste, and getting a grip of MoD budgets, including through increased scrutiny on spending.
‘That’s why we have taken immediate action to stop all non-essential government consultancy spending in 24/25.’