The sentiments expressed in this thread explain very clearly why the RAF (indeed Defence) is in the mess that it is.
If ever there was a clear need to make redundancies, then this is it. The training system is currently set up to produce far too many pilots for the number of cockpits (and other posts) that will be available. If we keep the flow going, then the ONLY way the total numbers of pilots in the RAF could be balanced would be to increase even further the number of trained and experienced pilots that will have to be selected for redundancy. This would be far more expensive, massively increase dilution on sqns, and potentially lead to compulsary redundancy for people who have given years of loyal service. Is that what you would prefer? And while it is crap to have to do so, at least the proposed method to achieve the cuts in studes (as explained by MrFlibble) seems a fair one.
More fundamentally though, the constant whining about accountants and bean-counters shows why we in the Services are babes in the wood in the modern world. It IS all about the money AND IT ALWAYS HAS BEEN! It is specifically because our 4-stars have failed over the last 10 years to grasp the nettle of the unaffordability of our plans that we have ended up in this crisis. It was not unforseen, it was not primarily caused by Labour's financial mismanagement (check out the fairly even profile of the Defence Vote from 1997-2009 if you don't believe me) and it was bloody obvious for years, but no-one was prepared to stick their head above the parapet and address the issue. Oh, this bliss of having 'war-fighters' at the top...