Defence Secretary 'furious about woke nonsense' and orders MOD diversity policy review

The Defence Secretary has ordered a review of the Ministry of Defence's diversity and inclusion policy, following reports that the British Army is looking to relax its security checks for overseas recruits to increase diversity in the ranks.

Grant Shapps said there would be no "lowering of security clearance requirements on my watch".

It comes after the Sunday Telegraph reported it had seen an Army document vowing to "challenge" security checks for overseas applicants.

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The newspaper said the UK's Armed Forces are looking overseas to attract ethnic minority talent because they have long failed to hit recruitment targets.

Mr Shapps is said to be "genuinely furious about this woke nonsense" and does not believe such policies are the way to address the military's recruitment crisis.

He also said that a "woke culture has seeped into public life and it is poisoning common sense discourse", writing in the Express: "I am in a position to challenge this philosophy and I will."

The 2023 British Army's Race Action Plan, outlining measures to boost representation, describes security clearance vetting as being "the primary barrier to non-UK personnel gaining a commission in the Army" and vows to "challenge SC (security clearance) requirements," according to the Sunday Telegraph.

Mr Shapps said: "I am ordering a review of diversity and inclusivity policy at the MOD.

"We want people from all backgrounds to serve in our military but some policies appear to be more about a political agenda than practically improving the lives of our dedicated soldiers and military personnel.

He went on to say "there will certainly not be any lowering of security clearance requirements on my watch.

He added that "no-one should be offended by having religion as part of remembrance services. You don't have to be Christian to appreciate and respect the history and traditions of the United Kingdom".

A source close to Mr Shapps said the Defence Secretary wants "an Armed Forces that everyone who is willing to serve their country is welcome to join and that supports them personally".

"But the Defence Secretary is genuinely furious about this woke nonsense and he's determined it is routed out on his watch.

"He's ready to go to battle on it."

The source went on: "He has talked repeatedly about how it is a more dangerous world so there is no way security levels will be lowered while he is Secretary of State.

"There is already a review of equality, diversity and inclusivity policies for the civil service and already unconscious bias training has rightly been scrapped. 

"The same standards will apply to defence."

It was reported in January that British Army recruitment for personnel below the rank of officer has been below target every year since 2010.

MPs also warned earlier this month the UK was not ready to fight an all-out war due to capability and recruitment issues.

In a report titled Ready For War?, the Commons Defence Committee said the Government needed to address the military's issues, adding it is "consistently overstretched".

It comes after it was reported potential officer candidates who failed the Army's selection process would be given a second chance as the service looks to boost its numbers.