The national cake is sliced up according to the pollies wishes (and they argue that they are responding to the wishes of the 'people').
The defence budget is then passed down from the Treasury to the Big Wheel civil servants in the MOD who then have a meeting with the Big *s in green, dark blue and light blue. They then go off with their worry beads and it eventually comes down to the sqn ldr staff officers who then have to produce a paper which then works its way back up the chain to the Big *s office who pronounces himself well pleased with the efficient staff work. He then passes it on to the Big Wheel civil servants who pass it on to the Treasury who pass it on to the Cabinet and the PM says to the public "Lo, we have achieveth what thou hast asked for and have managed to restrict prescription charges to only a quid rise this year"
Moral: It's the bloke next door's fault so go and kick his nuts in. You are certainly not going to get any Big *s giving in their notice on principle (Sorry Prime Minister, you are talking bollocks. We cannot do what you want with this level of resources. You can do without my services)