Britannia Radio

NEWS RELEASE

December 8, 2010

COALITION “DANGEROUSLY MISGUIDED” ON DEFENCE AND SECURITY

Strategic Defence Review was dictated by the Treasury and Cabinet Office over the heads of the military and MoD

The Coalition Government has shown “commendable courage” in tackling the economic crisis but many of its decisions on defence policy are “avoidable and dangerous”. That is the verdict of three former senior officers – General Sir Michael Rose, Vice-Admiral Sir Jeremy Blackham and Air Commodore Andrew Lambert – in a major report published today (Dec 8) by the UK National Defence Association (UKNDA).

Written as a direct response to the Government’s Strategic Defence & Security Review (SDSR), the Anglo-French defence treaty and the recent NATO Summit, the report says that the Coalition has “failed to appreciate just how dangerously run-down all three Services have become under previous governments, to the point where national security is already severely compromised.”

The report’s co-authors accuse the Government of rushing the SDSR through in order to meet the timetable for the Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR) and allowing the entire SDSR process to be dominated by the Treasury and the Cabinet Office, circumventing the Ministry of Defence and the Armed Forces. They say that the Coalition’s “misunderstanding” of defence has led to Britain dismantling vital military capabilities while potential enemies around the world are strongly re-arming.

The UKNDA report recommends:

• That the Government delay any major irreversible defence decisions for another six months while the threats to Britain and the desirable defence capabilities to meet them are more carefully and expertly assessed;
• That the Government should freeze its decisions immediately on Ark Royal and the Harriers, whose retention costs are low compared with the security they provide against unexpected contingencies (most wars and conflicts are unforeseen) and to maintain the Fleet Air Arm and vital naval expertise in operating carriers until the new carriers are available with modern planes in 2020;
• That the nine vital Nimrod reconnaissance planes, whose main costs have already been spent, should be retained, as they provide Britain will full maritime surveillance and are indispensable in ensuring safe passage to our nuclear deterrent submarines as they leave and return to British ports. Without the Nimrods the safety of our nuclear deterrent is seriously compromised.
• That the Government carries out the six month review with as little fanfare as possible in a conscientious prudent way and to be absolutely sure of optimum security on such critical issues. These momentous decisions should then be kept under continuous review.

The report’s authors conclude: “The Government has shown commendable courage and intellectual justification in tackling the economic crisis. Defence deserves no less.”

-ENDS

To discuss the report, please contact the co-author, Air Cdre Andrew Lambert on 07811 262303, email andrewlambert99@hotmail.com

For further information on the UKNDA please contact the Chief Executive Officer, Kees van Haperen, on 07787 522196, email ceo@uknda.org; or Public Relations Officer, Andy Smith, on 07737 271676, email pro@uknda.org

Website: www.uknda.org