Soldiers from two British battalions have joined a 1,500-strong European Union Battlegroup adorned with EU flags. As the forced marched across  the British countryside, Prime Minister David Cameron continued to deny supporting its existence.

The so-called ‘EU High Readiness Battlegroup, containing troops from Sweden, Latvia, Finland, Lithuania, and Ireland was spotted on Salisbury Plain taking part in what is thought to be the biggest EU military exercise in the UK.

The development has been slammed by the former Tory defence secretary Liam Fox, current Armed Forces Minister Penny Mordaunt and UKIP defence spokesman Mike Hookem.

A British Brigadier is technically in charge of the Battlegroup during the UK’s period of command, however, he takes his orders from Brussels and the Foreign Affairs and Security Council of the European Union.

British troops from 2nd Battalion, the Yorkshire Regiment, and 4th Infantry Brigade were involved. Last week Breitbart London revealed how officers from the 4th infantry Brigade prayed at a ‘fundamentalist’ mosque that has been linked to the 7/7, 9/11, and San Bernardino terrorist attacks.

The French and Germans have long been vocal in their support for an EU army, but Germany has delayed a report detailing their plans for the force until after the June 23rd referendum on Britain’s membership of the EU.

In October last year, EU Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, said: “We are going to move towards an EU army much faster than people believe.” Commission President Romano Prodi has also said: “If you don’t want to call it a European army, don’t call it a European army.

“You can call it ‘Margaret’, you can call it ‘Mary-Anne’, you can find any name, but it is a joint effort for peace-keeping missions – the first time you have a joint, not bilateral, effort at European level.”

UKIP defence spokesman Mike Hookem MEP described news of the recent exercise as “horrifying”. The former Commando Engineer said the idea of “EU flagged military vehicles on exercise on Salisbury Plain is stomach churning.”

He told Breitbart London in a statement: “How can the government possibly claim this is nothing to do with having a standing EU Army?” he said after David Cameron tried to distance himself from the news ahead of the EU referendum next month.

“This is a British Battlegroup preparing for readiness for an EU instructed conflict – it is a Brigadier who has sworn allegiance to Her Majesty taking orders from the EU’s High Representative, Federica Mogherini.

“To paraphrase former Commission President Romano Prodi, if you don’t want to call it a European Army, Mr. Cameron, you can call it ‘Margaret. You can find any name, but what this is is an EU Army.

“And the timing is no coincidence either – just in time for the referendum to be over.

“Time and again we have heard Pro-EU politicians claiming that there will not be an EU military but right under the noses of the British public we have exercises and operations taking place.

“It’s no wonder the government have told all military personnel they cannot take part in referendum activities; they’re desperately trying to stop the truth getting out ahead of the crucial vote.”

Despite the photographic evidence of operation on British soil, the Prime Minister claimed that he was working hard to resist the creation of an EU army. A Downing Street spokesman told the Daily Mail:

“The Prime Minister has repeatedly made clear that the UK will never be a part of an EU army… We will oppose any measures which would undermine member states’ military forces”.

Armed Forces Minister Penny Mordaunt said: “This is proof of the European Union’s plan to create a Euro army – and it is dishonest for the In campaign to claim otherwise.

“The prospect of having our security policy dictated by Brussels is a huge concern – and makes a mockery of the claim Britain is stronger in the EU.”

Former defense secretary Liam Fox told the Express: “They will try to say this has nothing to do with an EU Army but the truth is that, bit by bit, they are creating the mechanisms that will make it possible.”

Last month Breitbart London reported how 600 members of various European police and military forces have carried out an EU funded training exercise in Germany, preparing for major civil unrest and even war.