opso,
To be fair, I rather think that it's the Beeb who need this pointing out to them.
Howarth's comments about terminology masking cuts and overstretch suggest that he's in no doubt. The BBC, however, chose to inject a note of qualification/ scepticism/'balance' by putting 'could' rather than 'would'.
Although the Conservatives' spending plans for defence can be queried (what are they exactly, and where is the hinted-at cash coming from?), it's only dear old Buff who 'refuses to recognise' that there's such a thing as overstretch.
Bunter Soames has been on about overstretch for some time, and he's not only referring to his waistband....