Hague: "Natural time" for armed forces departures

Britain's most senior military officer will quit in the autumn, before the end of his term in April 2011, Defence Secretary Liam Fox has said.

Air Chief Marshal Sir Jock Stirrup has been chief of the defence staff since 2006 and was asked to extend his term by the previous government.

Ministry of Defence civil servant Sir Bill Jeffrey will also go.

Speaking to the Andrew Marr Show on BBC One, Foreign Secretary William Hague denied the departures indicated the men were being blamed for excessive spending on MoD procurement and under-resourcing of the Afghan mission.