Shrinking size of UK armed forces raises fears over ability to fight
The size of the UK’s army has shrunk to fewer than 76,000 soldiers, latest figures show - as one European Nato general reportedly said the country can no longer “put a brigade in the field”.
Data shows that in the 12 months to September the army’s total strength fell from 79,139 to 75,983 - at this downward trajectory there could be fewer than 70,000 regular soldiers within two years.
It comes amid militarily uncertainty in western Europe continuing to .
