MoD announces further job cuts

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has announced that there will be a further 4,200 job cuts in the armed forces, limited career development opportunities.

Defence secretary Phillip Hammond defended his decision and insisted he had "no choice" but to cut the jobs due to the "appalling state" of military finances.

In a statement, the MoD revealed it was looking to shed 2,900 posts from the army, around 1,000 from the RAF and 300 from the Royal Navy.

Approximately 400 Gurkhas jobs will also be shed alongside around 500 infantry privates with more than six years' service.

However, Labour has questioned the need to target the Gurkhas and has asked the government whether the UK's national security could remain resilient in light of the announced job losses.

Jim Murphy, the shadow defence secretary, said: "David Cameron talked a lot in opposition about his pride in the Gurkhas, so many will be surprised they are now bearing the brunt of his rushed defence review."

The defence review, which was published in 2010, demanded 7,000 job losses, but that figure more than doubled last year as the MoD struggled to contain its ballooning budget.

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