Which political party considers defence as important.

[hs125]

I'm fairly apolitical but would not want to vote for a party that would want to decrease defence spending, get rid of Trident, scrap F35 etc. I don't think people understand the potential ramifications of the depletion of our armed forces (all services). At election time it largely gets left to the bottom of the discussion lists unless it has to do with Scotland. I've not seen this on any comparison websites so was wondering if anyone had a view.

This post might up a can of worms so it has to be on (mil) aviation-related policy only.

[Vulcanone]

When we are on a run up to an election, the government offices and the MoD adhere to Purdah.

See this: and try not to fall off your chair from boredom....

http://www.parliament.uk/business/publi ... ion-period


All I can say is (from standing on a fence for most of the last 40 odd years), is none of any of the parties tend to discuss it and shy away from it, and if they do, it don't get the discussion it deserves apart from maybe the Trident Subs. I suspect the Armed Forces are already digging in for the potential next SDSR.

Or should that be renamed what is next on the capability holiday list....

[Dazza37]

Which political party considers defence as important?

Short answer? None of them*, because 'Defence' isn't a vote winner...

*(UKIP have made a few positive noises about defence spending but...)

-Dazza

[theplanespotter]

As Dazza says, UKIP are all for increasing defence spending, but realistically the conservatives are the best bet! But please don't choose who to vote for based on who will commit the most to defence, vote for who you think will benefit the country the most as a whole (EVEN if it is the greens )

[Agent K]

As Dazza says, UKIP are all for increasing defence spending, but realistically the conservatives are the best bet! But please don't choose who to vote for based on who will commit the most to defence, vote for who you think will benefit the country the most as a whole (EVEN if it is the greens )

It's a sorry day when the party who scrapped fleets and capabilities Nimrod, Harrier, Carrier capability is considered the best?,

[RubyRoo]

I'm not a Conservatives fan in any way whatsoever. However, all credit to them, they did bring the defence budget under control, even with some dubious decisions to scrap certain capabilities.

The Conservatives have made echoes that defence spending will be maintained at 2% of GDP, but it's widely anticipated within professional circles that spending will fall under them, and further capabilities will be cut.

The most damning thing of all is that this is a trend likely to happen no matter what party gets in. If you want to see the least impact upon defence, then I'd vote Tory. (UKIP obviously have no chance).

If you want to see what's better for the country overall, I'd suggest an alternative

[Macc]

Planespotter has got it right. There are many more considerations than defence unfortunately. When there is not enough money to go round, then one cannot do everything. I see the only solution to NHS, Defence, and everything else is, sadly, to increase income tax. (...) Everyone would like something for nothing, but in the real world, this doesn't happen. The money, moan however much you like, has to come from us.

Totally agree - living in Denmark just now where the tax rate is high but the benefits are numerous put the perspective back in the positive. Transparency and better public contribution could allow to solve our problems, unfortunately politics is about winning votes and not making the most benefiting decisions.

[POL]

People want to base their vote on their hobby. Oh christ, we're all doomed :/

[ArabJazzie]

Hello all,
If recent rumored events are to believed, why would you want to vote back in those that have allowed visitors to our inner, never mind our coastal waters? Its another reason why i dont think Trident should be replaced if we cant look after it when its in port! Now i have only once heard a politician mention our lack of MPA capability which used to be there to, maybe not stop this kind of thing, but could restrict it!

Thankfully in Scotland, we have an alternative but the UK is stuck with the ones that got us there and the ones who made things worse!
Arabest,
Geoff.

[Vulcanone]

Some on here seem to have short term memory loss


Pardon me but didn't Labour retire Sea Harrier (some less than 8 years old) Jaguar (after all the mods to keep it at the top) Tornado F.3, and the nail in the Nimrods coffin having faffed around on how long to take to buy (and how many to buy of Nimrod 4) Given that despite its problems the Conservatives ordered 21 in 1996.

No the Conservatives aint perfect either.... Duncan Sandy and so on...

In short they really need to wise up given that there are many surprises around every corner... Did somebody predict the Arab Spring? in 2011, having just binned the Harrier fleet

[hs125]

More informed choice than outright vote winner. Not read or heard much about defence so thought I'd get some good opinions on this forum.

[ColintheCaterpillar]

People want to base their vote on their hobby. Oh christ, we're all doomed :/

Please tell me that post was a joke?

[chrisfg1]

Good article here on why defence isn't a big vote winner this time.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-32435850

[ColintheCaterpillar]

Good article here on why defence isn't a big vote winner this time.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-32435850

It isn't a vote winner, but the fact is that it may be better looked after by some parties than others.