The British government will have to spend much more on NATO's military invasion of Libya than what was initially estimated, a minister has said.
Chief Secretary to the Treasury Danny Alexander said the cost of the UK's military involvement in Libya will run into the hundreds of millions, British media reported.
Alexander's estimate contradicts those of his boss Chancellor George Osborne, who has estimated the cost will be no more than “tens of millions”.
When Britain launched an invasion against Libya in March, as part of the NATO military campaign Osborne told the House of Commons that the UK's involvement would cost 'in the order of tens of millions of pounds, not hundreds of millions'.
But, Alexander, a Liberal Democrat MP, said the bill was rising as the campaign goes on. He insisted, however, that the money would come from reserves, rather than other spending.
“The campaign is costing tens of millions, potentially into the hundreds of millions as it goes on, but that money is coming from the reserve that we have set aside, precisely for contingencies such as this,” he said.
“It doesn't have an effect on any other spending, on any other public services. Of course there is a very powerful moral case for the action we are taking in Libya, it's right that we find those resources precisely from the contingency reserve that we have”, said Alexander.
The British government is increasing becoming divided over the costs of the conflict amid internal pressures the people are enduring as a result of the government's economic policies.
“It is worrying that Danny Alexander seems to be guessing about current costs, which are dramatically more than George Osborne originally predicted”, said Shadow defence secretary Jim Murphy said.
“We support the mission in Libya but the government need to be clearer on the costs”, he said.
The question is why the UK authorities who had had ample reserves to spend on another war, they designed austerity measures which are having an impact on every aspects of the citizens' life.
This comes as the head of the Royal Navy warned last week that Britain's defences will be at risk if the war drags on for another three months.
First Sea lord Admiral Sir Mark Stanhope said the Fleet would only be able to fight for 90 days more before it has to make serious cuts in firepower elsewhere.
The war is currently costing around £6 million a week, and a fortnight ago it was estimated that Britain's bill for the campaign has already reached £75 million.
Libya war costs challenge UK govt.
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