Labour
From the aims of a global Britain:
– (We will ) conduct a Strategic Defence Review to equip our Armed Forces for 21st Century challenges, and support our troops and veterans.
– Use our international reach to build security and stability – combating terrorism and extremism, curbing proliferation, preventing and resolving conflict, and tackling climate change.
On Afghanistan:
A stable Afghanistan and a stable Pakistan means a safer Britain: if Afghanistan fell to the Taleban, Al Qaeda could regroup, and Pakistan’s stability and our national security would be threatened… The London conference in January 2010 agreed there should be 300,000 Afghan Army and police by the end of 2011, with British forces and other countries shifting more of their effort into training to begin the process of handing over responsibility for districts and provinces to Afghan forces later this year.
On Iran:
This is the gravest nuclear threat to global security since the foundation of the Non-Proliferation Treaty in the 1960s. We support engagement and pressure on the Iranian regime; it is threatening its own people as well as the security of the region and the world.
On the armed forces:
We are reforming defence procurement, making further reductions in civilian staff, and cutting lower-priority spending on headquarters costs, travel and consultancy. A Strategic Defence Review will look at all areas of defence, but we will maintain our independent nuclear deterrent. We will fight for multilateral disarmament, working for a world free of nuclear weapons, in the Non Proliferation Treaty Review conference and beyond – combining support for civilian nuclear energy with concerted action against proliferation.
On the troops:
As a sign of our continued commitment to the military community, we will introduce a Forces Charter to enshrine in law the rights of forces, their families, and Veterans. A Veterans ID card will help Veterans access their improved benefits and will be free to service leavers. We will continue to strengthen mental health provision in partnership with the Combat Stress charity, and roll out our Welfare Pathway to give personnel and their families better support and advice.
Conservatives
On defence spending:
Given our commitment to carry out a Strategic Defence and Security Review, it would also not be appropriate to make in-year reductions to the existing defence budget in 2010/11. Savings in these protected areas will be channelled back into frontline services. The net £6 billion of savings will be made from the remaining departmental budgets.
On the new National Security Council:
We will establish a National Security Council to co-ordinate responses to the dangers we face, which will be chaired by the Prime Minister. In addition, we will: create a National Security – Adviser and a new National Resilience Team for Homeland Security;
– develop a National Security Strategy and oversee a Strategic Defence and Security Review that implements that strategy; and,
– establish a new Permanent Military Command for Homeland Defence and Security to provide a more structured military contribution to homeland security.
On Afghanistan:
Our mission in Afghanistan is vital to our national security. Success in Afghanistan will be achieved when it is a more stable state, able to manage its own security, resist outside interference, and prevent terrorists from using its territory as a safe haven. We will always ensure our Forces have the resources they need to carry out their mission properly, and we will press other members of NATO to take their fair share of the military burden. The training of Afghanistan’s own security forces is key to the success of the mission, and we will continue to make it a priority.
On Iran:
(We will) support concerted international efforts to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.
On the troops:
We will restore the Military Covenant and ensure that our Armed Forces, their families and veterans are properly taken care of. To make that happen, we will:
– double the operational allowance;
– maximise rest and recuperation leave;
– ensure our servicemen and women are treated in dedicated military wards in hospital;
– change the rules so that service personnel are not locked out of the voting system by rules that Labour have introduced;
– use ‘pupil level annual school census’ data to include service children within our plans for a pupil premium in schools, ensuring they attract extra funding
– provide university and further education scholarships for the children of servicemen and women killed while on active duty, backdated to 1990;
– pilot a mental health follow-up service for those who have left the services; and,
– review the rules governing the awarding of medals.
Liberal Democrats
As part of their Comprehensive Spending Review:
Saying no to the like-for-like replacement of the Trident nuclear weapons system, which could cost £100 billion. We will hold a full defence review to establish the best alternative for Britain’s future security.
On defence spending:
– Hold an immediate Strategic Security and Defence Review (SSDR) to ensure that Britain deploys its resources to face the most serious threats to its citizens’ security and well-being, including non-military challenges such as climate change.
– With strong Treasury involvement, review all major defence procurement projects through the SSDR to ensure money is being spent effectively. We will not purchase tranche 3B of the Eurofighter.
– Rule out the like-for-like replacement of the Trident nuclear weapons system. At a cost of £100 billion over a lifetime it is unaffordable, and Britain’s security would be better served by alternatives. We support multilateral nuclear disarmament and will ensure that the UK plays a proactive role in the arms reduction talks starting later this year.
– Reinvigorate Franco-British and wider European defence co-operation to ensure procurement costs are kept low.
On Afghanistan:
Be critical supporters of the Afghanistan mission. The military surge must be accompanied by a strategy to ensure a more legitimate
government, tackle corruption and win over moderate elements in 68 your world the insurgency. We will continue to demand a strategy that involves other players in the region. We believe that a successful strategy will stabilise Afghanistan enough to allow British troops to come home during the next Parliament.
On Iran:
Support action by the international community to stop Iran obtaining nuclear weapons. We would follow a diplomatic route of active
engagement, and are ready to back targeted sanctions, but we oppose military action against Iran and believe those calling for such action undermine the growing reform movement in Iran.
On the troops:
– Give a pay rise to the lower ranks so that their pay is brought into line with the starting salary of their emergency services counterparts.
– Double the rate of modernisation of forces’ family homes to ensure they are fit for heroes.
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