Choppy seas ahead for Royal Navy

Euro-MP Paul Nuttall

Plans for the British Navy to combine with French forces should be sunk without trace, according to UKIP MEP Paul Nuttall.

"I believe the move is a worrying step towards the creation of an EU defence force," he explained.

"The plans, which are set to be discussed in France this week, demonstrate Britain’s need to disentangle its forces from the European Union and in turn keep command of its own defence," he said.

Defence Secretary Liam Fox is set to meet with French ministers on Friday to discuss the plans which could see the Royal Navy share the use of its aircraft carriers with France.

The move comes as the Gurkha regiment, which has been part of the British Army for almost 200 years, faces the axe under savage cuts to defence spending being considered by the coalition Government.

“These are certainly worrying times for our overstretched armed forces. The Gurkha regiment appears to be under threat and we are also heading towards combining the British and French navies," said Mr Nuttall, Rochdale's Euro MP.

“This coalition Government is repeating the mistakes of previous Governments by starving our Armed Forces of the money it so desperately needs.

“We need a defence review headed by the chiefs of the armed services to establish what requirements we actually need and whether money is being spent wisely.

“The combination of navies is a clear indication of the drive towards the creation of an EU Defence Force which would be another hole in the hull of British sovereignty.

“This plan could jeopardise jobs in our British dockyards. We need a proper defence budget to properly sustain Britain’s defence commitments around the world.

“Our Armed Forces are facing a two-pronged attack from our own Government and the interfering EU,” he added.