NEWS RELEASEApril 6, 2010ARE THERE VOTES IN DEFENCE?Will the nation's defence and security - "the first priority of government" - be properly addressed by the political parties in the General Election campaign? And will the welfare of our servicemen and servicewomen, including those risking their lives in Afghanistan, be in the minds of Britain's voters when they enter the polling booth next month?
The UK National Defence Association (UKNDA) intends to ensure that defence and national security are high up the political agenda throughout the election. To launch its campaign, and to pressure the political parties to give a firm commitment on defence funding, the UKNDA is holding a meeting tomorrow (Wednesday April 7) at the Naval & Military Club, London SW1 on the subject "Conventional warfare in an unconventional world: Are there votes in defence?"
The speakers are: Admiral Sir Jonathon Band (First Sea Lord, 2006-09), Tony Edwards (former head of Defence Exports at the MoD), Air Chief Marshal Sir Michael Graydon (Chief of the Air Staff, 1992-97) and Colonel Bob Stewart DSO (former UN commander in Bosnia). Tickets for this event, which starts at 7pm, are £10 each. For more information or to reserve a place please email Martin Cakebread, ndm@uknda.org or go to the website www.uknda.org
"Don’t cut defence": The UKNDA opposes any further cuts to the Armed Forces and calls upon the Government and Opposition parties to agree to ring-fence defence spending. UKNDA spokesman Andy Smith says: "Defence and national security should be above party politics. We should aim for a broad political consensus on the need for 'sufficient, appropriate and fully-funded Armed Forces'. Balancing the national budget must not be at the expense of our Armed Forces, which are already severely under-funded, over-stretched and over-tasked."
-ENDS
Press contact: Andy Smith, pro@uknda.org, 07737 271676.
MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES - Please register with Andy Smith (07737 271676) if you wish to attend tomorrow evening's event. |
Tuesday, 6 April 2010
Posts
