Liberal Democrat Policy on Defence

Written by Nick Harvey MP and published in ADS Newsletter - Defence News on Tue 2nd Feb 2010

Twenty years on from the end of the Cold War, the UK's defence priorities are in dire need of reconfiguration for contemporary conflict.

The first and foremost Liberal Democrat defence priority is a Strategic Defence Review that is truly comprehensive. It must not be undermined beforehand through exceptions: everything, including the replacement of Trident, must be included.

Second, we need to see a much more accountable, responsive and faster-moving approach to procurement. It cannot be right that it has taken over eight years in Afghanistan for an order for new Chinooks to be placed. Equally, it cannot be right to commit billions more on tranche 3b of Eurofighter when we can't even afford the ones we've already received. Under the current system, everyone from the taxpayer to defence industry to the soldier suffers from the Government's inconsistent and inefficient defence planning.

Last, but by no means least, we need to do much more for those who put their lives on the line on our behalf. Procurement scandals like a lack of body armour and an insufficient combat airlift capability have endangered the safety of our troops. Any such system that produces this result is deeply flawed. My party colleagues and I want to do more to support our troops and ensure they are better able to do their jobs - from fairer pay and conditions to better housing and kit.

It is imperative that not one penny is wasted while we do everything we can to support our forces - a difficult balance to achieve, but one that we must accomplish.

All of this means re-evaluating every commitment, including the amount spent on staffing and top brass salaries. A comprehensive Strategic Defence Review is the vehicle - but it must not be neutered beforehand by a raft of pre-emptions and exemptions.