UK's Military Procurement System Is Broken

SKY News: UK's ability to arm itself 'is broken' amid increasing security threats, MPs warn  

The report is the latest of many to sound the alarm on the MoD's procurement system. But the concern has escalated since Russia invaded Ukraine - a war with the potential to escalate into a full-blown conflict involving the UK and its NATO allies. 

The Ministry of Defence must admit its ability to arm the military is broken and urgently needs fixing at a time of growing security threats, a group of MPs has warned. 

The damning verdict emerged as Ben Wallace, who has overseen the department for the past four years as the longest-serving Conservative defence secretary, revealed in an interview with the Sunday Times that he would leave government in the autumn.  

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UK's Military Procurement System Is Broken  

MPs condemn system that has left Armed Forces with an 'limited reserve' of military equipment -- Daily Mail  

BROKEN SYSTEM Ministry of Defence’s system for buying tanks, ships and planes is ‘broken’, warns new report -- The SUN  

UK left with 'extremely limited' numbers of combat equipment -- UK Defence Joournal

U.K. Ministry Of Defense Facing Serious Budget Shortfalls For Buying New Weapons

The Telegraph: MoD's new jets and warships threatened by rising costs and falling pound warn MPs

The Ministry of Defence may be unable to afford new fighter jets, warships and other military equipment because costs are rising and the falling pound has blown a black hole in its budget, MPs have warned.

The cross-party Commons Public Accounts Committee on Tuesday said it was "very concerned" a £178 billion defence equipment plan to deliver new kit over the next decade was now at risk.

The recent fall in the value of the pound against the US dollar may lead to “significant cost increases” for equipment coming from America.

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Update #1: Plans for new warships and jets becoming unaffordable, watchdog warns (Aol)
Update #2: Britain may not be able to fight a war because weapons are too expensive – MPs (RT)
Update #3: MoD’s plans for new warships, jets and subs ‘face £10billion shortfall’ (The SUN)

WNU Editor:So much for this U.K. Ministry of Defense 10 year plan.

A Summary On The U.K. Defense Review

(Click on Image to Enlarge)

Daily Mail: Trident bill rockets to £31BILLION: Four nuclear subs will cost £6bn more than the previous estimate and arrive five years late as naval chief warns the delay was a 'dangerous and huge risk'

* The price tag for replacing Trident has risen to at least £31billion, according to yesterday's defence spending review
* Buying four new submarines to carry the nuclear deterrent will cost £31billion over 20 years, an increase of £6billion
* The jump in costs was revealed amid yesterday's review setting out plans to spend £178billion over ten years

The price tag for replacing Trident has risen to at least £31billion.

The £6billion jump in costs was revealed yesterday in a defence review setting out plans to spend £178billion on equipment and support over ten years.

Buying four submarines to carry the nuclear deterrent will cost £31billion over 20 years – compared with a previous estimate of £25billion.

A £10billion contingency has been set aside to meet additional unexpected costs. The first new submarine will now enter service in the early 2030s – five years behind schedule.

More News On The U.K. Defense Review

David Cameron Says He Will Increase Britain’s Military Spending -- NYT
UK announces rapid strike forces, more warships in new defense plan -- Reuters
Britain's Cameron To Pledge Extra £12 Billion for Defence -- AFP
Britain To Buy P-8s, Reaffirms Full F-35 Buy; Doubling Special Forces Spending -- Breaking Defense
UK to buy more F-35 jets, boost anti-terror budget - Osborne -- Reuters
Osborne: UK to speed up aircraft carrier jet purchase -- BBC
UK will speed up purchase of F-35 jets -- Ars Technica
F-35, P8 Planes in Massive UK Defence Procurement List -- Defense World
Trident renewal costs rise by £6bn, defence review reveals -- The Guardian
Leaders: Trident cost is no longer just a defence issue -- Scotsman
Cost of renewing Trident soars by billions as David Cameron won't say when MPs will get a vote -- Mirror
Cameron: 10,000 soldiers to flood Britain's streets in event of Paris-style ISIS attack -- Mirror
U.K. Raises Cost Estimate for New Submarines -- WSJ
Cameron admits renewing Trident nukes will cost extra £6bn -- RT
Defence review: 10,000 troops could tackle terror attacks - PM -- BBC
UK’s New Rapid Deployment ‘Strike Brigades’ to Deal With Emerging Threats -- Defense Update
Exclusive: Cameron Says Obama 'Clearly Delighted' by UK's New Defense Plans -- Defense News
Defence review: No bonanza for stretched armed forces -- Financial Times
Boeing is the big winner from David Cameron's defence review -- The Telegraph
This defence and security review sends a message: Britain is no longer in retreat -- Malcolm Chalmers, The Guardian
A partial fix for Britain’s hollowed-out military -- Financial Times

Recruitment Ads For Joining The British Military Fail To Attract New Recruits

Daily Mail: Armed forces failing to attract recruits despite MoD spending £30MILLION on TV adverts as it is revealed one in three top brass face the chop

* £14.5million spent on Royal Navy ads, £6million on Army, £8million on RAF
* But the Army only recruited 6,000 in 2014 - falling short of its 10,000 target
* Plans by General Sir Nicholas Carter will now cut top brass by up to a third
* Will mean many of the army's 500 colonels and 200 brigadiers will be axed
* 'Revolution' is an effort to raise professionalism and reduce bureaucracy

WNU Editor: Someone should tell the MoD that you need more than just a flashy ad to gain recruits.

What Will Be The Impact On The U.K. Military If Scotland Votes For Independence

British Military Mulls Implications Of Vote For Scottish Independence -- The Guardian

Much negotiation lies ahead if Scotland leaves the UK, not least a debate about the strategic benefits of nuclear weapons

A vote for Scottish independence would place a question mark over the future of Trident and infuriate the US, the UK defence establishmentand the Royal Navy's top brass in particular. However, the likelihood is that an accommodation would have to be reached over conventional defence issues, such as air defence, maritime surveillance bases, radar stations, and air-sea rescue services and over Trident. The navy's nuclear submarine port at Faslane and nuclear warhead depot at nearby Coulport in western Scotland is the only Trident base in the UK.

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More News And Analysis On What Will Be The Impact On The U.K. Military If Scotland Votes For Independence

Naval chiefs: Scottish independence will do 'immense damage' to Forces -- The Telegraph
Hard Times Await UK Armed Forces if Scotland Secedes -- RIA Novosti
If Scots vote for independence, Britain’s nuclear subs might need a new home -- Stars and Stripes
Royal Navy Faced With Tough Sub Choices If Scotland Leaves U.K. -- USNI
UK’s Nuclear Missiles Could Be Headed for the US if Scotland Wins Independence -- Vice News
EXCLUSIVE: Send British nukes to US if Scotland votes Yes say military chiefs -- Express
Farce of part-time air force: Independent Scotland would be forced to run air force that could operate only in office hours, military analysts suggest -- Daily Mail
How easily could Scotland set up its own armed forces? -- The Telegraph
Salmond demands £10bn tartan army: Ships, jets, helicopters, troops...they're all in SNP's sights if Scotland votes Yes -- Daily Mail
Scottish independence: Ex-military warn over 'Yes' vote -- BBC
Scottish independence: 'Heroes, generals and rank-and-file soldiers' appeal to voters to reject separation -- Auslan Cramb, The Telegraph
Scottish Soldiers Join Battle Over Independence -- Newsweek/Reuters
Ex-NATO commander blasts ‘dangerous’ defense plan for independent Scotland -- RT
UK Ex-Military Chiefs Warn Scotland’s Separation to Undermine Common Security -- RIA Novsoti
Scottish independence: Defence is new battleground -- Scotsman
Scotland Warned Armies Don't 'Grow Overnight' -- SKY News
An independent Scotland will need its own army, navy, and air force — and that could be a problem -- Peter Vine, The Week/War Is Boring
Scottish independence will weaken British defence and security - but it'll be worse for Scotland -- Mirror
Scottish independence: You and whose army? -- The Economist
UK Ministry of Defence Has ‘No Contingency Plan’ for Scottish Referendum Split -- Damien Sharkov, Newsweek
Scotland Risks Swiss-Like ‘Hollow Force’ With Separate Military -- Kari Lundgren, Bloomberg Businessweek
Future of Scotland's Defense Enters Debate -- FOX News
Vote for Scottish independence would make 'UK more vulnerable to terror attack' -- Dion Dassanayake, Express
A Scottish 'Yes' Also Means Exit from EU, NATO -- John-Thor Dahlburg, Military.com/AP
Scottish Independence Would Make The Whole UK Vulnerable To Terror Attack, Military Officials Warn -- Huffington post
Scottish independence: how would Scotland defend itself? -- Claire Phipps, The Guardian
Why the Pentagon Should Care About Scotland's Referendum -- Emma Ashford, Foreign Policy
Daily question: What might a Scottish defence force look like? -- Cameron Buttle, BBC
Factbox: How UK and an independent Scotland might split up a nation -- Reuters
How Does The British Military Split With An Independent Scotland? -- Christopher Harress, IBTimes

A Part of Britain's Military History is Now Up For Sale

Heart Of Britain’s Military History Put Up For Sale -- Financial Times

The government building where a century of British politicians and military leaders have strategised their war plans is on the market, as the Ministry of Defence prepares to sell one of its most famous properties.

The Old War Office on Whitehall was built in 1906 and is listed Grade II*.

Property agents GVA will start to market the neo-Baroque, 430,000 sq ft building this autumn. It is still occupied by the MoD, which plans to move out.

The building could fetch more than £100m, property agents say.

Prime ministers Winston Churchill, HH Asquith and David Lloyd George all worked in the building when the each had the role of secretary of state for war at various times, as did Lord Kitchener, the military leader.

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My Comment: This is what happens when governments do not have any more money .... they sell everything including the kitchen sink.

Britain's Ministry Of Defence Employs More Accountants Than Senior Army officers

Accountants At Ministry Of Defence Outnumber Senior Army Officers: Government Accused Of Caring More About 'Bean-Counting' Than National Security -- Daily Mail

* MoD in the midst of massive cost cutting drive, including axing 30,000 troops
* Shadow Defence spokesman says minister cares more about 'bean-counting'
* 820 accountants axed in past three years have got £23m in compensation

The Government was accused of caring more about ‘bean-counting than national security’ after it emerged the Ministry of Defence employs more accountants than senior Army officers.

Figures show the MoD has 2,490 civilian staff working in the ‘Finance Job Family’, compared with 2,300 senior officers.

These include generals, lieutenant generals, major generals, brigadiers and colonels put together.

The number of accountants at the ministry has sparked outrage at a time when thousands of frontline servicemen are being axed amid crippling military cuts.

The MoD, in the midst of one of the toughest cost-cutting drives in its history, is axing 30,000 troops, fleets of warships, warplanes and armoured vehicles to save £4.7billion and plug a £42billion black hole in its equipment budget.

Some 25,000 civil servants are also losing their jobs.

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My Comment: Sighhh .... why does this not surprise me.

British Army Soldiers Told Stop Wasting Bullets

Photo: 5.56mm ammunition rounds are pictured during a training shoot onboard HMS Cornwall by the frigate's Royal Marine Boarding Team using their SA80 assault rifles. Wikipedia

British Army Soldiers Told Stop Wasting Ammunition -- The Telegraph

Firing off excess ammunition after exercises is a "massive issue", internal Army publication reports, amid sweeping Coalition defence cuts

Soldiers are being told to stop wasting ammunition and save bullets on training exercises amid concern money is being squandered.

An internal Army magazine has told troops to stop firing off unused ammunition at the end of exercises.

Senior officers condemned the practice as wasteful and said there was no excuse for using up excess bullets at the end of firing exercises, rather than handing them back in to stores.

The Army is currently going through sweeping cuts as part of Coaliton cost-cutting which will see the loss of 20,000 regulars by 2020.

A letter from a soldier to the internal magazine of the British Army, said wasting ammunition was a “massive issue in today’s financial climate”.

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Update: Stop wasting bullets, soldiers are told as cash-strapped MoD is accused of squandering millions on botched IT -- Daily Mail

My Comment: I guess cutting back on light bulbs, toilet paper, and pencils is next.

Reforms Have Left The British Army In Chaos

Reforms Have Left The Army In Chaos -- The Telegraph

Budget cuts have led to 'hostile recruiting environment’, claims leaked document

Controversial plans to restructure the Army are “failing” because cuts to the defence budget are putting off potential new soldiers and making Britain a “hostile recruiting environment”, according to a leaked document.

The memo, which is understood to have had wide distribution within the Ministry of Defence, says that “disappointing” recruitment to the new Army Reserve means that targets for a larger part-time force will not be reached.

The recruitment crisis means the Army faces “increased risk to its structure and operational capability”, according to the document, which has been seen by The Telegraph.

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My Comment: Who in his right mind would want to join a military that is facing budget cutbacks, lousy pay, equipment shortages, an uncaring government and public, and dangerous missions.

Britain's MoD Apologizes For Keeping Body Parts Of Fallen Soldiers Secret

Families' Grief As MoD Admits Secretly Stashing Fallen Troops' Body Parts For Forensic Tests -- Daily Mail

* The number of families and soldiers affected is smaller than 60 since multiple samples of human tissue have been retained in each case
* Military whistleblower: 'These have been retained illegally for no good purpose'
* The MoD would not say whether any disciplinary action has been taken

Body parts of British soldiers killed in Afghanistan have been secretly retained by the Army, the Mail can reveal.

At least 60 items of human tissue, which should have been given to families for burial, were stashed away by the Royal Military Police.

The Ministry of Defence last night admitted that material was retained without families being informed, and that officials are now seeking to contact those affected.

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More News On The Body Parts Scandal In Britain's MoD

Soldiers' body parts 'kept by Army' -- The Telegraph
Ministry of Defence sorry over body parts error -- BBC
MoD working to identify soldiers' body parts -- The Guardian
Body parts of British soldiers retained -- Irish Times
UK defense ministry says some soldiers’ body parts kept without notifying families -- Washington Post/AP

My Comment: What were they thinking?

Britain To Abandon Plans To Buy The F-35C. Will Favor Jump Jets

Scrapped: The PM has followed military chiefs in abandoning plans to buy the conventional F-35C Joint Strike Fighter, pictured in a U.S. Navy test flight, after costs soared by £1.8billion

EXCLUSIVE: Cameron In Humiliating U-Turn On Future Of Britain's Aircraft Carriers With Return Of The Jump Jet -- Daily Mail

David Cameron has agreed to perform a u-turn on the future of Britain’s aircraft carriers.

In a humiliating reversal, the Prime Minister has agreed to scrapping the aircraft that were due to fly off the troubled warships and replace them with jump jets which he had previously rejected.

Senior Downing Street sources say Mr Cameron has decided to follow the advice of military chiefs by abandoning plans to buy the conventional F-35C Joint Strike Fighter after costs soared by £1.8billion.

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My Comment: Talk about eating crow .... but considering the alternatives they had no choice.

Britain Delays It's Fighter Jet Decision (Again)

The F-35C is propelled off the deck by a catapult, and "trapped" when it lands

New Delay Over Fighter Jet Choice -- The Telegraph

A decision on the choice of the Royal Navy's new combat jet has been delayed yet again following disagreements between senior officers and defence ministers.

The Government is poised to perform an about-turn on its choice of plane to fly from two new aircraft carriers that will enter service in 2020.

Senior officers have advised the Prime Minister to axe plans to buy the Joint Strike Fighter F-35C after the cost of converting the carriers to use them rose to £2 billion – on top of the £6.2 billion cost of building the vessels.

The F-35C is propelled off the deck by a catapult, and "trapped" when it lands.

Commanders have formally recommended that the Government buy the F-35B, which operates like a Harrier jump jet, and Philip Hammond, the Defence Secretary, has asked the Prime Minister to "sign off" the proposal.

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My Comment: As I had mentioned in a previous post .... no leadership, no accountability, no direction, no money .... result .... one huge mess.

Britain's Ministry Of Defense Embarrased For Selling It's Harrier Jets At A Fraction Of It's Cost

Rear Admiral Mark Heinrich, chief of the US Navy's supply corps, embarrassed Ministers when he said the deal made sense because the Harriers had recently undergone a refit at British taxpayers' expense

MoD Tried To Cover Up Selling Harrier Jets To Americans For Knock-Down Price Of £112m After £600m Refit -- Daily Mail

* Senior defence officials knew move was controversial
* They urged officials to stonewall awkward questions from the media

The Ministry of Defence tried to cover up the fact its Harrier jump-jets were sold to the Americans for a knock-down price of £112million shortly after a £600million refit.

Secret correspondence seen by The Mail on Sunday shows that senior defence officials knew the move was likely to prove controversial, and they urged officials to stonewall awkward questions from the media.

The deal to sell the 74 Harriers, which were decommissioned as part of the 2010 Defence Review, was announced on November 16 last year, a month after Philip Hammond replaced Liam Fox as Defence Secretary.

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My Comment: Has anyone been disciplined, demoted, fired? The answer is no, and there lies the heart of the problem with the Ministry of Defense. With no accountability .... why should anyone care.

It's A Well Paying Job With Bonuses (If You Can Get It)

Ministry Of Defence Civil Servant Awarded £86,000 Bonus -- The Telegraph

Ministry of Defence civil servants have been awarded £40 million in bonuses despite fierce criticism of the department.

One senior civil servant was awarded an £85,831 bonus on top of their six-figure salary - at the same time as members of the armed forces have been subject to a two-year pay freeze and 20,000 are to be made redundant.

The bonuses have been paid since April last year and have seen more than 55,000 officials awarded extra payments for their performance - out of a payroll of 83,000.

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Update #1: £40million in bonuses paid out to civil servants as the MoD cuts back on military staff -- Daily Mail
Update #2: Civil servants paid £40m in bonuses -- The Independent

My Comment: What a great way to raise morale among the ranks.

Britain's MoD To Announce Its Books Are Balanced For The First Time In Four Decades

MoD Balances Books First Time In Four Decades, Defence Secretary To Announce -- The Telegraph

The Ministry of Defence has finally balanced its books for the first time in four decades, the Defence Secretary is to announce.

The notorious £38 billion “black hole” in MoD finances has been “dealt with” and the department's “hand to mouth existence will come to an end,” Philip Hammond will say.

Ministers have even found a "spare" £2.1 billion which has been earmarked for several major spending projects to be announced in the coming weeks.

The money has come from a combination of draconian cuts over the last two years, tough bargaining with industry and a one per cent increase in the equipment budget.

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My Comment: To save the British military .... we had to gut, crush, and eliminate it. Hmmmm .... in view of all the cuts and terminations, this boasting of a balanced budget is something that I would not "crow" about too much.

Nimrod Destruction Cost The British Taxpayer £3.4bn

A Nimrod MRA4 reconnaissance aircraft sits parked on the tarmac waiting to be scrapped last February Photo: GETTY

Nimrod Destruction Cost Taxpayer £3.4bn As MoD Ignored 'Cost Implications', MPs Say -- The Telegraph

The destruction of the Nimrod surveillance aircraft fleet wasted £3.4 billion of taxpayers' money, according to an MPs report which concluded that short term defence cuts have led to huge costs.

In a scathing criticism of defence cuts the Public Account Committee said delaying the building of two aircraft carriers and the Astute class submarines had already increased the Ministry of Defence's by more than £5 billion in the long term.

“Decisions to delay or cut programmes to save money in the short term continue to lead to increased costs in the longer term and do not represent good value for money,” said Margaret Hodge, the Labour MP and PAC chairman.

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My Comment: Cost implications !?!?!?! That is the last thing that MoD bureaucrats are going to focus on. The sad truth is that government bureaucrats are rarely focused on 'cost implications' .... that is the job of the politicians .... politicians who have obviously been AWOL on this Nimrod decision.

Consultants Get £1.1m From Deal To Axe Harriers

MPs Outraged As Consultants Get £1.1m From Deal To Axe Harriers -- London Evening Standard

Consultants were paid £1.1 million to help axe Britain's fleet of Harrier jump jets and then sell them to America, it emerged today.

The Ministry of Defence was criticised for a "ludicrous waste" of money on outside help, at a time when thousands of troops are being cut.

MPs said it was "extraordinary" that private firms were profiting from helping to slash the defence budget, arguing the job could be done by the department's own staff. The 74 Harriers were retired eight years early as part of 2010's defence review. But last year 72 were sold to the US military, who compared them to cars with just 15,000 miles on the clock.

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My Comment: More stupid spending from the MoD

How Britain's MOD Spends Some Of Their Money

MoD Blew £1Million On Luxury Gym Trips, Jewellery And Nightclubs In A Single Year Before Axing 4,000 Jobs -- Daily Mail

A sickening culture of waste within the Ministry of Defence has been revealed just days before military chiefs are due to announce a raft of swingeing cuts to Britain's already hard-pressed armed forces.

As brave troops fought bloody battles in Afghanistan, desk-bound workers within the MoD saw fit to blow almost £1million on such luxuries as gallery trips, gym equipment, jewellery and nightclubs.

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My Comment: A £1million here .... a £1million there .... who cares.

There Are No Warships Left Defending Britain

Photo: Reuters

No Warships Left Defending Britain After Defence Cutbacks -- The Telegraph

Defence cuts have left the stretched Royal Navy unable to provide an emergency standby ship to protect British waters for a month.

The Navy normally provides a minimum coverage of a frigate or destroyer fulfilling the role of Fleet Ready Escort (FRE) in order to be able to respond quickly to a potential threat at home or abroad.

However, slashed Defence budgets and the war in Libya has meant there hasn't been a vessel available since the start of October.

The last ship to fill the role, called the FRE, was HMS Portland but that left for war games off the coast of Scotland in October, and it is now having a rest period in Plymouth on the south coast.

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My Comment: I can here the British political class line right now .... nothing to see here .... let's move on.

British Defense Minister Liam Fox Resigns -- News Roundup

Secret Cash Trail That Meant Fox Had To Go: Defence Secretary Resigns Amid Allegations He Personally Asked Tory Donor To Fund His Best Man -- Daily Mail

* Transport Secretary Philip Hammond is named as his replacement at the MoD with Justine Greening taking his job
* Dr Fox admits he 'mistakenly allowed the distinction between my personal interest and my Government activities to become blurred'
* 'The consequences of this have become clearer in recent days,' he said as he quit
* David Cameron says he is very sorry but 'understands reasons'
* Shadow Defence Secretary Jim Murphy says 'this was unavoidable and inevitable'

Liam Fox today quit his post as Defence Secretary over his links to friend and self-styled adviser Adam Werritty.

Dr Fox resigned from the Cabinet after a week of damaging revelations about their relationship.

Despite pledging to remain in his post, the Minister today sent a letter to Prime Minister David Cameron announcing his resignation.

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More News On The Resignation Of British Defense Secretary Liam Fox

Liam Fox resigns - live coverage -- The Guardian
Liam Fox and Adam Werritty: latest -- The Telegraph
Defence Secretary Liam Fox quits (Full Report) -- BBC
As it happened: Liam Fox resigns -- BBC
Liam Fox's resignation letter -- The Guardian
David Cameron: 'I understand why Liam Fox has decided to resign' -- The Telegraph
Liam Fox resigns -- The Independent
Liam Fox quits as Defence Secretary -- Press Association
Liam Fox resigns following Adam Werritty revelations -- The Telegraph
Liam Fox resigns -- The Guardian
UK Defense Secretary quits over "adviser" scandal -- Yahoo News/Reuters
UK defense minister quits after scandal -- Yahoo News/AP
British defence minister resigns in 'best man' scandal -- AFP
U.K. Defense Secretary Resigns Amid Scandal -- Wall Street Journal
British Defense Minister Resigns -- New York Times
British defense chief Liam Fox resigns -- Washington Post
Fox Outfoxed: Fresh Revelations Force U.K. Defense Secretary to Quit -- Time
British Defense Secretary Liam Fox quits -- UPI
Philip Hammond and Justine Greening named defence and transport ministers -- The Guardian
Liam Fox resignation: Ministry of Defence dreads more upheaval -- The Guardian
Liam Fox resignation leaves no trace of blood on David Cameron's hands -- Patrick Wintour, the Guardian
Liam Fox timeline: how events unfolded -- The Telegraph