An independent reviewer has praised the ‘fundamental transformation’ that the Ministry of Defence has undergone in the last four years.

Lord Levene, who published the independent Defence Reform report into the structure and management of the MOD in June 2011, delivered his latest annual progress report in December 2014, declaring that ‘a leopard really can change its spots’.

His original report considered how to improve the management of the MOD, making 53 recommendations, with a commitment to review progress annually.

The latest review praised stronger financial management across the MOD – a vital step in ensuring that the Department never again has an unaffordable, overheated programme – and finds that the MOD is now much better placed to address the challenges of the future.

Lord Levene said: “I perceive a sea change in attitudes from every side. One of the principal recommendations was to delegate expenditure down the chain of command to the user. This was a brave decision by ministers and the Treasury but I think that their faith and confidence is beginning to pay off.

“To me the MOD is now a very different animal from that which I left some 20 years ago, especially in terms of showing that they can be trusted to manage the money. A leopard really can change its spots.”