There has been warning that British Armed Forces could be cut by a fifth by 2016. An independent think tank, the Royal United Services Institute said major cuts were inevitable whichever party was in power after this year's election. A government spokesman said no spending plan has yet been set beyond next year. The Royal United Services Institute said the number of trained military personnel could fall from 175,000 to little more than 140,000 by 2016. The Ministry of Defence said budgets would not be cut at all next year.