Fewer spooks, more boots? SDSR 15 activated.

[Al R]

Spies may face cuts to save troops | The Times. (paywall)

David Cameron launched a review of defence and security yesterday amid warnings that Britain’s spy agencies may face cuts to fund Tory pledges to protect the armed forces.

The Strategic Defence and Security Review 2015, which will define the future shape, size and role of the military when it reports in the autumn, was activated at a national security council meeting, Whitehall sources revealed.

[Jimlad1]

Its incredible isn't it how within 24 hours of something officially beginning, the papers are already full of certainty as to how its going to turn out. This may come as news to the SDSR team!

[Whenurhappy]

David Cameron launched a review of defence and security yesterday amid warnings that Britain’s spy agencies may face cuts to fund Tory pledges to protect the armed forces.

As described by someone at a meeting I went to last year, 'The SIA (Single Intelligence Architecture) budget is no more than a rounding error of the MOD budget'. In other words, if we get rid of civilian intelligence officers (not, agents, not spies), the savings will be minimal

[Melchett01]

The SIA is about £2bn across all the agencies - it's on their website before anybody accuses me of leaking state secrets. In the grand scheme of things that isn't a great deal, but where it might be useful is if security is counted as defence to get the spending totals to that magic 2% mark.