{"id":58149,"date":"2017-11-21T20:46:10","date_gmt":"2017-11-21T20:46:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/uncategorized\/2017\/11\/21\/uk-defense-review-delayed-by-leadership-shakeup\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T00:20:12","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T00:20:12","slug":"uk-defense-review-delayed-by-leadership-shakeup","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/global\/europe\/2017\/11\/21\/uk-defense-review-delayed-by-leadership-shakeup\/","title":{"rendered":"UK defense review delayed by leadership shakeup"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

LONDON \u2014 Completion of a planned mini defense and security review<\/a> by the British government is expected to slip as the country\u2019s new defense secretary comes to grips with the issues at hand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The schedule set out in July when the government formally launched the review envisaged a decision on the way forward by the national security council before Christmas. But that time table looks to have been blown off course by the appointment earlier this month of Gavin Williamson as the new defense secretary, said Stephen Lovegrove, the permanent undersecretary at the Ministry of Defence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe may see some slippage, principally because we have a new secretary of state, who \u2026 is very conscious some of the decisions which he will be asked to make will be decisions which will last for generations; he feels appropriate responsibility for getting those right,\u201d Lovegrove told a Parliamentary defense select committee hearing. He noted that he had spoken to the new defense secretary the day prior.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The review is expected to announce capability and program cuts to help close a black hole in defence department finances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Apologies by error.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Leaks to the media have mainly focused on the potential axing of the Royal Navy\u2019s only two amphibious assault ships<\/a>, HMS Albion and HMS Bulwark, and 1,000 Royal Marines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Recent media reports said Williamson had already decided to scrap that option, although Lovegrove was unable to confirm whether the defense secretary had or hadn\u2019t made a decision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe final advice to the secretary of state on a particular matter has not been proffered to him. Exactly where he is personally I\u2019m not privy to that,\u201d said the MoD\u2019s top senior servant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Williamson was appointed defense secretary at the start of the month after Sir Michael Fallon\u2019s unexpected exit from the post following sexual harassment allegations.<\/p>\n\n\n\t