John Healey: ‘Russia is attacking the UK daily’
Defence Secretary John Healey was interviewed today ahead of the government’s publication of the Strategic Defence Review, which will warn that new technology is significantly changing the nature of war. On the BBC, Laura Kuenssberg asked Healey if there is a risk that Russia would attack the UK. Healey said the UK defence system already deals with thousands of cyberattacks, many of which come from Russia, which is why the government is putting in ‘an extra £1bn to create a new cyber command’. Healey warned we are in ‘a world of growing threats’, and that the Strategic Defence Review will set out how UK forces must respond.
Healey admits army size target will not be reached until the next parliament
Healey was also asked about the size of the British Army, which has been in decline. The current target is 73,000 troops, but Healey admitted to Laura Kuenssberg that he did not expect to meet that target until the next parliament.
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