UK’s armed forces chief says there is no row over cuts with head of army

Tony Radakin tells MPs that Patrick Sanders' brief tenure is down to the defence secretary not him

The head of the British military has insisted he has not fallen out with the army's chief over cuts, telling MPs the decision to restrict the latter to a two-year contract was made by the defence secretary without consulting him.

Adm Sir Tony Radakin, the chief of the defence staff, was trying to defuse a row that broke out at the end of last week, when it emerged that interviews had begun to replace Gen Sir Patrick Sanders, the chief of the general staff, prompting allies to warn he was being forced out.