GETTY Lord Guthrie has switched from the Remain camp to the Leave camp

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Lord Guthrie has spoken of his fears surrounding a potential “European army” and claimed severing ties with the bloc would be “better for defence”. This comes despite the Government promising it would “never be part of an EU army”. Lord Guthrie, who was the professional head of the British Army between 1994 and 1997, had previously put his name down on a letter calling for Britain to stay in the Union.

GETTY Jean-Claude Juncker's European Commission is allegedly planning to create an EU army

But the military veteran has now claimed that was “a mistake” and urged British voters to abandon Jean-Claude Juncker’s band of Brussels bureaucrats. The original letter, which originated in Downing Street, argued that the EU was an “increasingly important pillar of our security”. It cited the growing threats faced from the likes of Islamic State, Russian nationalism and Middle East instability as reasons Britain should stick with Brussels.

GETTY In April, a military police unit carried out European Union-funded special training

The letter said: “Britain will have to confront these challenges whether it is inside or outside the EU. But within the EU, we are stronger.” But Cameron’s Eurocratic crew has now been dealt a major blow from Field Marshal Lord Guthrie, who described the prospect of an EU army as “disastrous”. He told the Daily Telegraph: “I think a European army could damage Nato. It is expensive.

“It's unnecessary duplication to have it. It would appeal to some Euro vanity thing. "There's a feeling that those backing the European army are doing it for political reasons rather than military ones.

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“They want to be able to boast, 'Look! We've got a European army'. That is dangerous.” In April, a military police unit carried out European Union-funded special training, ready to be deployed in the event of civil unrest or war.

GETTY Lord Guthrie claimed that an EU army could damage NATO