During the Queen’s Speech in 2015, it was announced that the Government would introduce a Bill to renew the Armed Forces Act 2006, which had been previously renewed by the Armed Forces Act 2011. There is an Armed Forces Act every five years and has been since 1689.
Britain has the second largest defence budget in NATO and the biggest in the whole of the European Union. And it is right that we maintain a creditable defence operation and the UK has committed to meet the NATO pledge to spend two per cent of GDP on defence every year of this decade in accordance with NATO guidance.
As I write, 4,000 brave and capable men and women of our three Armed Forces are working around the clock on 21 different joint operations in 19 countries. But no country in the world can invest in, maintain and support their Armed Forces while having a broken economy, a soaring budget deficit and unfunded spending commitments. The £38 billion black hole left in the defence budget by the previous Labour Government was one of the greatest strategic threats to Britain’s Armed Forces and our national security, and I fully support this commitment to invest in the Armed Forces.
This is in stark contrast to views expressed on defence by the leader of the Labour Party, which in my view present a serious risk to our nation’s security. It is with much disquiet that I note he believes that Trident should be scrapped and the UK withdraw from NATO. Furthermore I note that he makes excuses for Russian actions in Ukraine and calls for “some degree of joint administration” of the Falkland Islands. And we are all aware of comments made by the Shadow Chancellor where he praised the “bombs and bullets” of the IRA. The Leader of the Opposition also opposed Government efforts to counter terrorism in the UK, further demonstrating a complete disregard for our national security and our security services.
We should always be promoting peace, negotiation and non-military solutions to problems that arise around the world, but I am a realist and proud that the UK is investing in British security, in British prosperity and our place in the world, transforming our ability to project power globally, whether independently or with our allies.
If of course you would like to speak to me about anything please either send me an e-mail at [email protected] or give me a call on 01527 591334. As ever you can also keep up to date with my whereabouts on Twitter and on Facebook.
Best wishes
Karen