After trying to gag coronor Des Browne bids to silence MoD whistleblower

Embatttled Defence Secretary Des Browne has threatened to sack whistleblowers who expose Armed Forces' budget cutbacks and embarrassing confidential information.

Mr Browne has sought to end a damaging series of leaks by issuing a draconian warning to Ministry of Defence staff, including senior military officers, that they will be firmly dealt with if caught leaking stories to the media.

He has already outraged bereaved relatives by seeking to gag coroners' criticisms of the MoD at inquests into the deaths of British troops.

And a memo obtained by The Mail on Sunday marked "Restricted" and dated March 12 reveals the start of a new attempt to crush an MoD mutiny against defence cuts.

Acting on Mr Browne's orders, Sir Bill Jeffrey, the MoD's senior mandarin, told department heads: "I am very concerned about the number of leaks to the media that have occurred in recent months."

He refers indirectly to a recent leak that suggested that a £1billion programme for new RAF Lynx helicopters for operations in Afghanistan could be shelved, along with a contract for two new Royal Navy aircraft carriers.

Sir Bill, the MoD Permanent Secretary, angrily accused staff of defying orders to keep both proposals secret.

A confidential note "expressly precluded any onward transmission but staff – including senior staff – ignored this and cascaded the note further", he said.

He added: "They betray a worryingly cavalier attitude towards the protection of confidential information."

He orders senior officials to warn employees that "leaking information to the media, whether classified or not, is unacceptable and, if detected, will be firmly dealt with".

Tory defence spokesman Gerald Howarth accused Mr Browne of "paranoia", adding: "The reason for these leaks is because of the despair felt across the Services about the betrayal of the Armed Forces by Gordon Brown."

An MoD spokesman said: "We don't comment on leaked memos."