Hollow pledges on defence spending won't make Britain any safer
Sir Keir Starmer and his ministers now talk about spending 5 per cent of GDP on 'security'. Of this, 3.5 per cent will be spent on real defence capability – and the rest will go on whatever Whitehall mandarins decide they can say falls under this category.
Sir Humphrey would be proud of them.
Iain Duffin
Malmesbury, Wiltshire
SIR – Shrinking our GDP would make the 5 per cent target for defence spending easier to achieve. Could this be the Government's strategy?
Keith Macpherson
Clevedon, Somerset
SIR – Promises to increase defence spending are worthless without a commitment to secure the British economy, which has been severely damaged by successive governments over the past 40 years. Budget deficits have driven up the national debt, putting our children on the hook for today's expenditure and removing the capacity for the country to spend more in the face of a real emergency.
This debt crisis must be addressed. In addition, the Government must adopt policies that deliver affordable energy, so that British businesses can be competitive.
Until a party seriously commits to sound budgets and cheaper energy, we cannot have faith in promises to secure the country.
Ronnie Bradford
Vienna, Austria
SIR – All the sophisticated weaponry and technology in the world will be of no value if we lack the personnel to use them ('British jets to carry nuclear warheads', report, June 25). The recruitment process, as conducted by civilian contractors, has proved to be a disaster, and must be restored to the individual services. The Combined Cadet Force (CCF) should be rejuvenated, as should all forms of junior entry to the services. Pay and conditions must be improved, and the pervasive nonsense of diversity, equity and inclusion schemes must not be allowed to interfere with recruitment based on merit.
The country needs a credible military deterrent, which must be of sufficient strength to ensure that it can meet all threats. The reintroduction of some form of conscription should be considered, and national pride in the Armed Forces must once again be integral to our way of life.
The security of the nation is the prime responsibility of any government, and should be prioritised accordingly in all budgetary planning.
Mick Richards
Malvern, Worcestershire
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