The UK Government has defended its Strategic Defence Review, with Armed Forces Minister Luke Pollard insisting that it will be bold and ambitious, following concerns that military leaders are being “gagged” over its contents.
Speaking in the House of Commons, Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi MP (Lab, Slough) raised concerns over reports that armed forces chiefs have been restricted from speaking publicly about the review, which has been described by some as “limp”.
“With escalating threats to our critical infrastructure, I was concerned by reports over the weekend that our armed forces chiefs are apparently being gagged over the upcoming strategic defence review, which has been described by some as ‘limp’,” he said.
“I am fully aware that, recognising the dangers, the Government have announced the largest increase in defence spending since the end of the Second World War, but at this critical time we certainly should not be sidelining our service chiefs or penny-pinching on our nation’s defence.”
“Would the Minister like to take this opportunity to reassure the nation that our strategic defence review, when published, will be bold, ambitious and anything but limp?”
Pollard strongly rejected the concerns, stating that the government is delivering the biggest reform of defence in 50 years, alongside significant increases in military spending.
“Absolutely. We live in incredibly difficult times, which is why this Government are meeting the moment with increased defence spending and the biggest reform of our defence in 50 years,” he said.
He highlighted investments in new technologies and personnel, stressing that the armed forces have full government backing.
“We are investing in new technologies, and investing in the people who keep our country safe,” he said.
“From the most senior generals and admirals down to privates and sailors, we are giving all our armed forces a renewed determination to make sure they understand how we defend our country in its best interests, but also that the nation backs them in defending our country.”
Pollard also indicated that further announcements on defence investment are forthcoming.
“There are further announcements to come, but let us all be in no doubt but that the whole House backs our armed forces and that we look forward to the further investment in defence that is coming,” he said.
The Strategic Defence Review is expected to outline major reforms and increased investment, with further details anticipated in the coming weeks.
Yes, a much better way to conduct a defence reviews is what we normally do where the defence chiefs leak stuff to their mates on fleets street constantly who can then use it to sell outrage at cutting what ever sacred cow the defence chief had just offered up.
Looking at the state of our armed forces this seems to be a very efficient way of doing things, like running foreign policy via a signal chat group.
I have mixed thoughts.
On one side the constant leaking of info and it driving policy, is not an effective way to do a review, resulting in stuff being maintained that should have gone years ago and money not being spent were its needed.
On the flip side if we don’t hear from the top bass we don’t know if the defense review is purely smoke and mirrors or if it actually delivers improvement. Transparency in public decision making is important.
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What does it matter when the budgets are fixed, nuclear is ringfenced, GCAP is psed, AUKUS a sacred cow, etc, etc? We already had government leaking its priorities, and there’s nothing left for the service chiefs but to squabble amongst themselves for the remainer.
The only thing they could do that government might be afraid of is them saying in one voice, more money now! However, CDS is getting a nice new remit and with rumours of a fifth star, he’ll keep the other in line.
I’m pretty sure the service chiefs want AUKUS and GCAP more than anyone. When they say “service chiefs cut out” what they actually mean is The Army is being cut out.
The RAF and RN stopped briefing against each other along time ago.
This is why we hear the constant dribble of “the army only has 70,000 we can possibly invade Russia with that” like it would make any difference to European security if the UK (which is famous for having small army’s for 300 years now) had 100,000 soldiers.
Somehow Britain having an army of the magic 100,000 number would allow us to achieve anything in the world but with 70,000 we can’t fight our way out of a wet paper bag.
It’s not so much about 100k, it’s just a reference point against which demonstrates that at every review the number is further cut.
I am looking forward to reading the bold, ambitious …and cheap SDR 😂
How do you know when a politician is lying ……..?
SDR, due in April, will seemingly rule out further E7 buys and cancel the second batch of A400Ms.
In better news, today’s Spring Statement will add £2.2bn to the defence budget, taking the 25/26 budget to 2.36% of GDP.
As well as upgrades to service accommodation and buildings (helpful for retention and reduced running costs, plus energy supply resilience with solar) the RN does relatively well, with upgrades to HMNB Portsmouth and acceleration of the Dragonfire rollout to deploy the system on 4 vessels (rather than 1 as per before) by 2027.
Perhaps we will learn more in the Spring Statement of Doom , in just over an hour?
Absolute cobblers.
They’re afraid as Germany and France are actually buying kit and expanding, where we, as always, contract.
MoD budget goes on DNE, AUKUS, GCAP, the service’s fight for the scraps.
It would be amazing if all 3 chiefs resigned and held a press conference saying enough is enough, but they never fall on their sword like Postumus, but secure their pensions instead.
Notice how Healeys’ endless talk of hollowing out has now stopped?
Sure but the budget has already been announced and it’s the biggest peace time uplift the MOD has ever received. A big part of the MOD budget has always gone on major projects and those project have normally been nuclear weapons and UK produced fighters.
France, China, Russia and the USA all have the same problem except in the case of the USA the problem is even bigger as they have more sacred cows than India.
They might well do, but still have larger forces remaining.
We don’t.
And that is the biggest problem in defence lamented for the last 30 years.
How can 2.5% GDP be bigger post war defence spending than the 4 to 5% it was in the 1980s? More hype over reality.
Not entirely fair, we are buying and upgrading a lot of kit. The issue is the kit is so old that it can’t be replaced fast enough and that is creating gaps. Plus waiting for so long has eaten up budget to maintain the old kit.
F35, archer, boxer, Ajax, t26, t31, wedgetail etc etc there is a long list of new kit being brought significantly improving capability.
I’m not worried about Germany spending a boat load on defence, it’ll be nothing more than an industry handout with the jets/vehicles etc. protecting tarmac from the sun. They can’t however be allowed a veto at the table on ever more projects as it kills exports.
France, at least in public is seizing the opportunity to lead eNATO, that should be the UK with the budget, equipment and personnel numbers to match.
The EU fund is available to us under certain conditions, offer a nuclear shield (to EU members admitted as of 1/1/25), in exchange our Boxer, Archer, A400M, M346 and whatever else we source from EU are paid for from the fund, hell see if it’ll cover UK built Typhoon. Extend that to individual European nations that want us to provide Typhoons with instant sunshine within their borders and have them pay the costs, UK sovereignty, no NPT issues, a clear signal of UK intent to lead.
We’ll end up protecting eNATO or EU nations one way or another through a myriad of treaties, be proactive with the available funding.
I’m pretty sure I know how it has gone and is going after being part of two reviews.
I’ll wait until publication before I pass judgement.
If the SDR has been done realistically and has accounted for the realities of today, funding, available resources and the need for modernisation there isn’t a way that it wouldn’t be disappointing no matter which way it goes, the uplift in defence just isn’t enough to do everything. Whilst this can be blamed on the past few decades it is still where they are and that is what has to be accepted rather than trying to live in the past.
Politically it’s lose lose, cut global commitments or push funding up higher which will not happen as it would require other areas of spending to be cut, although I don’t see the government cutting commitments taking a hit on their perceived global influence, so the double hatting will continue rather than increasing resources needed to the required. It’s hard to see much new kit being affordable beyond what is already planned if munitions stockpiles are to be refilled and increased back to credible levels and new kit has little value if you can’t use it because you have no munitions.
In equipment terms it would be hugely beneficial to actually order planned equipment and stop the dithering and delaying, T32,MRSS, Land Mobility Program, Boxer Batch 2, RCH 155, A400m, NMH, these aren’t even additional, already planned but nowhere to be seen currently and just slowing down modernisation. Even though other capabilities are needed screwing up current programs which are still relevant for other programs seen as “the new thing” rarely works out and just ends up leading wasted money and more capability gaps.
Atleast when the SDR is released they’ll have to find a new excuse for lack of decision making.
If anything I hope the defence chiefs told the government 2.5% is no were near enough ?
Rumour is that they were after 2.65% GDP.