Exclusive: Gen Lord Richard Dannatt warns ‘shortsighted’ move will ultimately add to burden on Britain’s armed forces

• Richard Dannatt: I ran Britain’s armed forces. I know what they need. Don’t cut aid to fund defence

Keir Starmer’s decision to reduce the foreign aid budget in order to pay for increased spending on defence is a “strategic mistake” that will ultimately add to the burden on Britain’s armed forces, a former head of the British army has warned.

Gen Lord Richard Dannatt, who is one of a number of former military chiefs and figures who have called on the government to boost its defence spending above the 2.5% GDP target, said the prime minister’s decision was “shortsighted” and “dangerously counterproductive”.