The army has become infiltrated by a “woke” and “extremist culture” the Defence Secretary has said, after he ordered a major review of diversity and inclusion policies within the military.
Grant Shapps instructed the Ministry of Defence to review its guidelines to ensure that Britain can defend its borders and isn’t hindered by “political correctness”.
The move follows reports that the army wants to relax security checks for recruits in a bid to boost diversity and inclusion in the armed forces.
Recruitment targets have been consistently missed by the British armed forces with ethnic minorities making up just 14 per cent of the regular army.
Grant Shapps said that 'woke culture has infiltrated' the military
Getty/PA
A leaked document, titled The British Army’s Race Action Plan, suggests the army “struggles to attract talent from ethnic minority backgrounds into the officer corps”.
The document is understood to represent the latest guidance and suggests that security clearance vetting is “the primary barrier to non-UK personnel gaining a commission in the Army”.
In response, Shapps said: “I am committed to improving the working conditions and morale of all those who work in the military and Ministry of Defence.
“This is not only the right thing to do but is key to improving recruitment and retainment in our forces.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
The MoD wants to relax security checks for recruits in a bid to boost diversity and inclusion in the armed forces
PA“However, time and resources are being squandered to promote a political agenda which is pitting individuals against each other, when what we need is a common set of values which delivers the military we need to defend us and our allies.
“This extremist culture has infiltrated public life over years and it is time for a proper shake-up, designed to refocus the military on its core mission – being a lethal fighting force.”
A source close to the Defence Secretary said: “He’s determined it is rooted out on his watch. He’s ready to go to battle on it…”
Meanwhile, fellow Cabinet minister Michael Gove said political correctness should not “impair our ability to defend our borders”.
General Sir Patrick Sanders has said that Britain should brace itself to fight a war in the futurePAThe Housing Secretary told Sky’s Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips: “Grant Shapps, the Defence Secretary, has been looking at the specific policies we have in the Ministry of Defence in order to ensure that we strike the right balance, that we provide protection for individuals in our armed forces, that we make sure that we draw all the talent available in this country to ensure that we have a strong and diverse military, but also to make sure that these policies operate in such a way as to ensure that political correctness, or some of the more – what’s the word? – ‘out there’ approaches that people take towards diversity, equity and inclusion don’t impair our ability to defend our borders and to make sure that this country is secure.”
Government figures show that there were 184,860 service personnel in the UK forces in October, including volunteer reserves.
The number reflects a fall of 7,440 from the previous year.
Shapps said last month that the UK needed to be “prepared” for war and the country was “moving from a post-war to pre-war world”.
General Sir Patrick Sanders, chief of the general staff, went further by suggesting the British public should prepare to fight in a “citizen army”.