| UK NATIONAL DEFENCE ASSOCIATION | |||
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| President: Winston S Churchill Patrons: Admiral Lord Boyce GCB OBE DL Rt. Hon Sir Menzies Campbell CBE QC MP Marshal of the RAF Lord Craig GCB OBE General Lord Guthrie GCB LVO OBE Rt. Hon Lord Owen CH CEO: Cdr. John L Muxworthy, RN UKNDA Ltd., PO Box 819 Portsmouth, Hants PO1 9FF Web www.uknda.org |
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NEWS RELEASE
Tuesday 15 December 2009: Release time immediate
CUTTING THE MILITARY BUDGET IS “A DEFENCE REVIEW BY THE BACK DOOR”
The UK National Defence Association (UKNDA) – which campaigns in support of Britain’s Armed Forces – is calling on the Government to re-think its approach to defence funding and to hold back from making any cuts to military spending unless and until a full Defence Review has been undertaken and funding priorities have been properly decided.
With the Defence Secretary expected to announce major cutbacks in Britain’s front-line military capabilities this afternoon, including the closure of air bases and reductions in Armed Forces manpower, in order to divert resources to British operations in Afghanistan, the UKNDA says that the Prime Minister must be prepared to find the money for Britain’s Afghan mission without raiding the core defence budget.
Cdr John Muxworthy RN, Chief Executive of the UKNDA, said: “These arbitrary cuts in our defence capabilities are hasty and ill-conceived. While Afghanistan is at last beginning to receive the force levels and support required to enable us to take the conflict to the enemy, this is being done at the expense of the wider and longer-term security of the country.
“Even if operations in Afghanistan were to be completed tomorrow, the threats in the rest of the world have not gone away, and the counter-insurgency posture specific to Afghanistan is of little use if we have to confront a peer competitor. At present, whole capabilities of conventional war-fighting have been lost or reduced to token strength and the expertise that played such a crucial role in both Gulf wars is now slipping away.”
He added: “All political parties acknowledge the need for a proper Defence Review where resources are honestly matched to security threats. But to cut a further £1.5bn, on top of the £2Bn last year, is a Defence Review via the back door. The aim, surely, is to be strong enough to deter war, not to appear weak and then have to fight an expensive war in 10 years time. Or are we to repeat the mistakes of the 1930s, when Britain neglected its defence, and risk similar appalling consequences?”
-Ends
Media contacts:
Cdr John Muxworthy RN, Chief Executive, UKNDA, email ceo@uknda.org, tel 07721 624980.
Air Cdre Andrew Lambert RAF (Rtd), Director & RAF Advisor, UKNDA, email andrewlambert99@hotmail.com, tel 07811 262303.
Andy Smith, Public Relations Officer, UKNDA, email pro@uknda.org, tel 07737 271676.
Notes to Editors:
The United Kingdom National Defence Association (UKNDA) was formed in 2007 to campaign in support of Britain's Armed Forces. Its President is Winston S. Churchill, former MP and war correspondent (and grandson of Britain's wartime Prime Minister) and its Patrons are: Admiral The Lord Boyce, Marshal of the RAF The Lord Craig, General The Lord Guthrie, The Rt Hon Sir Menzies Campbell MP and The Rt Hon The Lord Owen. Tri-Service and politically independent, the UKNDA aims to ensure that Britain's fighting men and women are properly trained, equipped, sustained and cared for. For details, go to www.uknda.org
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