Beckenham MP Bob Stewart has urged Britain's military chiefs to resign in protests over cuts to the defence budget. 

Former commander of United Nations forces in Bosnia, Colonel Bob Stewart said he was considering resigning as an MP due to his anger over the continuing squeeze on military spending.

Col Stewart, a Commons Defence Committee member, said the Chief of Defence staff Gen Sir Nick Houghton, his vice-chief, Air Chief Marshal Sir Stuart Peach and the three chiefs of the service should all resign on masse.

Plans to cut the size of the Army from 100,000 to 82,000 by 2020 and to allow UK spending to fall below the Nato target of two per cent of GDP on defence have angered Tory MPs.

"If we really are in a parlous state, why are the chiefs of staff not tendering their joint resignation? They should actually put their responsibilities to the people who they command as their top priority rather than getting another star," Col Stewart told the UK National Defence Association campaign (UKNDA) group on Wednesday (March 4).

Asked later on LBC radio if he would take the advice he was giving to the generals he said: "I'm thinking about it to be honest."

Col Stewart admitted he had thought about quitting both the select committee and his Commons seat over the cuts. 

He added: "I'm not considering resigning right now because it would be a dreadful time. 

"But the defence committee have been arguing for two per cent over the last year and saying please do it."

Former RAF head Air Chief Marshal Sir Michael Graydon said the current service chiefs could face a very difficult decision if they are confronted with the prospect of further cutbacks after the general election in May.

He warned that they could not carry on pretending they had the resources they needed.

The UKNDA is pressing all the political parties to commit to the Nato target of spending two percent of GDP on defence in the next parliament.

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