Defence Secretary Philip Hammond has written to Conservative MPs warning that they risk "serious damage" to the UK's reserve forces if they vote against Government plans to reorganise the Army.
The House of Commons is due to vote today on a rebel amendment which could delay plans to expand the Army Reserve to 30,000 to offset cuts of 20,000 in regular forces by 2020. The amendment, tabled by Tory backbencher John Baron, has been signed by 25 other MPs – including 21 Tories – who are concerned that the changes will leave gaps in defence capabilities.
Under Mr Baron's proposals, once the Defence Reform Bill became law, the Defence Secretary would have to report to Parliament on the "viability and cost effectiveness" of his plans and would not be permitted to go ahead without the approval of both Houses.
In his letter, Mr Hammond said this would be "damaging to the army and Britain's military capability".
He wrote: "I hope colleagues will support the Government in resisting John's amendment. To do otherwise will not only give a significant fillip to the Labour Party but more significantly would risk serious damage to our armed forces."
Chief of the General Staff, General Sir Peter Wall, said: "The Army is committed to delivering Army 2020 which will deliver the capability the Government requires. We are well on our way to implementing this plan. To reverse course at this stage would be destabilising and damaging."