Review of MoD’s diversity policies ordered by ‘furious’ Grant Shapps

Defence secretary Grant Shapps’s review was prompted by the British Army’s Race Action Plan, an attempt to increase representation in the armed forces. Photograph: Neil Hall/EPA

A review of diversity and inclusion policies at the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has been ordered to ensure that Britain’s ability to defend its borders isn’t impaired by what a cabinet minister described as “political correctness”.

The move follows reports that the army wants to relax security checks for overseas recruits to increase black, Asian and minority ethnic representation.