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Penny-pinching defence chiefs are devising plans to slash the jumping capability of the legendary Parachute Regiment, it was feared last night.
Just days after Downing Street sources suggested an additional £17billion could be spent on national security, the Army's most elite unit could be targeted for cuts.
It comes as the Daily Mail's Don't Leave Britain Defenceless campaign has called for more support for the Armed Forces.
All three battalions of the Parachute Regiment are trained and equipped to jump into warzones behind enemy lines.
But there were fears that one or two of those battalions may lose their routine parachute jumping capability.
A single Para battalion, either 2 or 3 Para, would continue to train for a mass infantry insertion behind enemy lines, if any plans are approved.
Conservative MP Ben Obese-Jecty demanded clarity over what the move could mean.
Mr Obese-Jecty, who submitted a parliamentary written question on the issue, told the Daily Mail: 'The Government needs to clarify the future of the Parachute Regiment, rather than bury it in the overdue Defence Investment Plan.'
Last night, the Ministry of Defence said: 'These claims are incorrect. There are no plans to cut any Parachute Regiment battalion, nor Para pay.'
Penny-pinching defence chiefs are devising plans to slash the jumping capability of the legendary Parachute Regiment, it was feared last night Pictured: Paratroopers from the British, Belgian, Canadian and US military reenact the D-Day landings during the 80th anniversary in 2024
It comes after Keir Starmer was poised to bring forward a huge rise in military spending after crisis meetings with defence chiefs on Monday night
The Daily Mail's Don't Leave Britain Defenceless campaign has called for more support for the Armed Forces
It comes after Keir Starmer was poised to bring forward a huge rise in military spending after crisis meetings with defence chiefs on Monday night.
The PM is expected to announce a timetable 'within weeks' for Britain to reach a key milestone years ahead of schedule.
The move to hit 3 per cent of gross domestic product on defence spending would generate an estimated £17billion in additional funding.
But, because that money would need to be found from public spending cuts, taxation or from higher borrowing, the Treasury is understood to be withholding approval.
The move comes almost two years after the Daily Mail launched its Don't Leave Britain Defenceless campaign which demanded exactly the same increase on exactly the same timetable.
Backed by senior officers, this newspaper called for Britain to commit to spending 3 per cent by the end of this parliament, or by 2029. Currently the percentage is described as 'an ambition' by the end of the next parliament, which could be as far off as 2034.
The timetable to reach 3 per cent by 2029 could be confirmed as part of the Government's economic Spring Statement on March 3.
It also comes a year after Tory leader Kemi Badenoch said her party would back Labour in any attempt to reach 3 per cent by 2029.
Monday night, speaking exclusively to the Daily Mail, Tory defence spokesman James Cartlidge said: 'This would be very welcome if it is true. But we called for this a year ago.
'Why has the Government waited a year? This exemplifies how the Prime Minister is making everything up as he is going along.'
The present level of expenditure is 2.4 per cent of GDP. Spending for the last financial year was £60.2billion. This is expected to rise to £62.2billion in 2025/26.
Sir Keir's mind was apparently made up after he took a personal interest in the Defence Investment Plan – a blueprint for costed military priorities.
The DIP was supposed to be published in the autumn but was delayed because the figures do not add up after reports of a £28billion shortfall over four years.
It widely agreed that the Services have been 'hollowed out' by decades of underfunding – and this has come as America's defence priorities tilt away from Europe and the threat from Russia grows.
Downing Street sources did not deny the move towards 3 per cent yesterday.