UK’s Falklands defences ‘up to the task’

The Argentinians do not have the military power to seize the Falkland Islands, even if they wanted to, Defence Minister Gerald Howarth said yesterday as he accused the country’s government of “sabre-rattling”.

Mr Howarth said ministers were “very seized” of the threat posed by the Argentinians as he told MPs in the Commons that the UK’s military deterrent in the South Atlantic region was “up to the task”.

His comments came as Edward Leigh, Tory MP for Gainsborough, questioned whether government cutbacks had compromised Britain’s ability to defend the islands, 30 years after they were liberated from the Argentinians.

Mr Howarth told Mr Leigh: “The military deterrent that we have is up to the task.”