The worst thing about the article in yesterday's Sunday Times was the suggestion that the Navy, Army and Air Force are at loggerheads with each other over the Defence budget. This is just mischief-making.
1/

The heads of all three services realise that fighting with each other serves none of their interests. Instead, those of us who work in Defence see a new culture emerging, where each service shows respect for the needs and priorities of the others.
2/

As a committed supporter of the Army, I am totally aligned with the Royal Navy's need for Carrier Strike and additional escorts. I am also a great fan of the RAF's P8 Poseidon MPA, E7 Wedgetail AEW&C and Tempest. I know senior Army leadership shares my views.
3/

Similarly, I know that Navy leadership has been correspondingly supportive of the Army and RAF's requirements. This has a lot to do with the quality of service chiefs across all three branches. Therefore, looking ahead, I am excited by the changes to defence I see.
4/

SDSR 2020 will require some difficult choices to be made. This doesn't mean the Government is the enemy either. Whatever happens, I am confident that it will be a mature and sensible discussion that will be more about growth than contraction.
5/

What I will say is that we have reached a point in time where a significant number of capabilities need renewal after an extended period of austerity. While there is universal recognition of this, the reality is that we can't do everything at once. That's all.
6/