Online meetings and bureaucracy delaying MoD reform, says former military chief

Here is a 196-word summary of the key points from the article: Former UK military chief Sir Tony Radakin has criticized the bureaucracy and decision-making processes within the Ministry of Defence (MoD), which he says are delaying much-needed reforms. Radakin cited "extraordinary Teams calls with 20 or 30 people" as part of the problem, where numerous officials and ministers can veto decisions, despite not being accountable for the outcomes. Radakin noted that the number of senior civil servants at the MoD has increased by 85% since 2018, even as the military's size has remained static. He contrasted this with the more agile decision-making seen in the government's response to the Ukraine crisis, where ministers were willing to take more operational risks. The former admiral praised the current and previous governments for wanting to reform the bureaucracy, but said progress has been frustratingly slow. He highlighted repeated delays in replacing the aging Trident nuclear submarine fleet as an example of this. Radakin argued for a more streamlined decision-making process, where fewer people would be involved in procurement decisions. Overall, Radakin's criticism points to a need for the MoD to become more efficient and agile in its operations and decision-making.