Defence secretary announces scrapping of £500m of vessels and drones to cut costs

John Healey said some had already been decommissioned in practice and confirmed retirement of some helicopters

The defence secretary, John Healey, has announced he will scrap 500m of British navy vessels and army drones as part of cost-saving measures in what was described as a black day" for the new government.

Two former Royal Navy flagships, a frigate and two support tankers will be decommissioned, with the savings reinvested into the defence budget. Healey blamed the move on a dire inheritance" left by the previous Tory administration.