The UK Ministry of Defense (MoD) has faced criticism for spending over £2 million on taxis and drivers amidst a financial crisis. This expense, part of the 2023/24 budget, has been labeled a “pointless waste” by campaigners, especially as the Army’s size is set to shrink to its smallest in 230 years, potentially falling below 70,000 troops. Colonel Philip Ingram emphasized the need for accountability in military spending to address waste. Despite the MoD’s justification for taxi costs, critics like the Taxpayers’ Alliance highlight that such expenditures detract from essential military funding amid growing global tensions.
The MoD has been accused of “putting taxpayers on the wrong foot” after blowing millions of pounds on taxis and drivers.
Figures revealed by MailOnline reveal that the cash-strapped British military spent £2,095,730.19 on vehicles to transport soldiers and civil servants.
The splurge on taxis will be spent in the 2023/24 financial year and has been branded by campaigners a “pointless waste” of cash.
News of the MoD’s travel bill comes as military leaders continue their efforts to plug a staggering £29bn financial black hole in defense spending.
Meanwhile, the British Army is set to shrink to its smallest size in 230 years, with numbers predicted to soon fall 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 earned £25,200.
According to statistics, the Ministry of Defense spent more than 2 million pounds on taxis and drivers (stock image)
The amount spent on transport may have paid the annual salaries of more than 80 soldiers with the rank of private (File photo of a British Army unit on exercise in Salisbury)
The news comes after Labor warned that the number of troops in the armed forces could fall below 70,000 for the first time in 230 years (file image of Prime Minister Keir Starmer leading troops in Salisbury, August 2022) )
Colonel Philip Ingram has warned that Britain is facing a ‘1938 moment’ and needs to invest properly in its military.
Colonel Philip Ingram, a former British intelligence officer, slammed the spending, telling MailOnline: “Virtually all activities across defense are not carried out in a cost-effective manner and taxpayers’ money is wasted because there is no accountability for wasteful actions.” need to be addressed.
“The way to do that is not to reduce the size of the force, but to bring accountability and hold people personally accountable for wasteful decisions and practices.” By doing this, defenders can It would save billions of dollars. ”
He added: “Reducing the size of the military sends the wrong message to potential adversaries in a time of increasing instability, increasing defense spending and the size of the given force.” “It also sends an incredibly bad message to our allies.” Growing international tensions.
“We are in a 1938-like moment. Modern times are not peaceful. We need to rapidly build up our military capabilities.”
The latest information was revealed in a Freedom of Information (FoI) request by MailOnline.
This funding was used as part of the Department of Defense’s Phoenix II vehicle contract.
In an FoI response to MailOnline, the MoD said: “As a large organization with remote locations across the UK and locations around the world, our staff are required to travel to locations that are not always accessible by public transport. There is,” he said.
Additionally, “all travel bookings by Ministry of Defense civil servants and military personnel are checked as mandatory and approved by management to ensure that requests are valid and value for money.” ‘ must be done,’ he added.
Some of the staff working as drivers are said to be highly trained ex-military personnel. They provide transportation for ministers and senior officials.
The amount of money spent on taxi and driver journeys was revealed in a Freedom of Information request by MailOnline (File image of the Department of Defense sign in Whitehall, London)
Taxi travel can cover the daily transportation of soldiers traveling between bases when other vehicles are not available.
Previous research revealed that the Ministry of Defense will spend £16.6m on car hire for staff in 2022, up from £12.9m the previous year.
Reacting to the recent splurge on taxis and drivers, William Yarwood, Media Campaigns Manager at Taxpayers’ Alliance, told MailOnline: “Taxpayers will be cornered by this senseless waste.”
“While the Ministry of Defense complains about massive funding shortfalls and attempts to fill various financial black holes, it is important to make every penny count.
“Instead of getting behind the wheel, Defense Department executives should declare war on waste.”
Conservative Shadow Armed Services Secretary Mark Francois said: “Given Labor’s stubborn refusal to commit to a deadline for 2.5% of GDP to be spent on defence, every pound spent by the MoD, including taxi fares, Every pound really counts.” The pounds spent on it cannot be spent on ammunition and other important requirements. ”
A Ministry of Defense spokesperson told MailOnline: “As the Prime Minister has said, the government has inherited a much worse public finances than expected.”
“This Government is committed to getting value for money for taxpayers, clamping down on waste and taking control of the MoD budget, including by increasing oversight of spending.
“That is why we took immediate action to halt all non-essential government consultant spending 24/7.”
