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DeliciousTories promise 'ruthless' review
Tuesday, February 09, 2010Conservative shadow defence secretary Dr Liam Fox has said that the party's Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR) will be carried out "ruthlessly and without sentiment".
Dr Fox said the Tory party's SDSR will recognise existing alliances but give Britain the ability to act unilaterally if required.
Fox said that if the conservative front bench came to power, it would be the "first post-Cold War government".
"We cannot base our future security on the assumption that future wars will be like the current ones," Fox told an audience at the Royal United Services Institute. "That is why we must maintain generic capability able to adapt to any changing threats. Second, we cannot accept the assumption in the Green Paper that Britain will always operate as part of an alliance. We have unique national interests and have to maintain the capability to act unilaterally if required.
"Without doubt the United States and France are our two most important defence and security partners. A future Conservative Government will continue to build on these relationships.
"Defence cannot be immune from the economic realities but we should use the difficult challenges to grasp the opportunity for long overdue radical thinking and reform," said Fox.
"The MoD needs a new vision and new life that only a new government has the energy to provide. The next SDSR will have to be a step change and full overhaul of the status quo - not a minor tinkering to the system. It will be carried out ruthlessly and without sentiment," he said. "Tough decisions will be made and there will be winners and losers at the end of the process but Britain will be safe and our interests secure.
"We are at a tipping point in Britain. We need to decide if we want to stay in the First Division or slide into the Second Division. I choose the former."
HAVE YOUR SAY
The need for a strong, innovative Defence Industrial base needs to be considered too. It surely has not gone unnoticed that with Britains decline in the area of Defence and loss of 'impartial image' that France has recently seen a surge in Defence related exports?
French government obviously takes a wider, all-encompassing strategic view.
Norman - UK
In general i agree with Dr Fox however, I do not agree that defence spending should be allowed to be reduced below 2.75-3.00% of GDP, on a sliding scale of departmental economy drives, defence should be the last to be reduced. Any further savings should be put back into the defence budget.
I do see a urgent need to reduce civilian employees and a completely overhauled procurement system.
As for any cuts, if Dr Fox cancels the carriers, he would not only loose my support he would loose my vote. I see the carriers as central to any type of future conflict, from positioning forces in theater to projecting air cover outside the range of current strike types. The type of aircraft operated by them need not be JSF though i think a cheaper off the shelf alternative could be found.
If you like the carriers would be the non nuclear deterrent arm of the nations nuclear deterrent and are therefore vital allow us a vital second option.
tim dainton - romsey
Conservatives have to get the public finances in order, but defence has been savaged since 1990. Defence needs a small boost. Cut Browns profligacy in quangos, management consultants, welfare spongers & non-jobs first.
That gets the deficit under control & allows investment in defence & infrastructure.
John Hartley - Woking/England/UK