According to the Labour Party website the Labour Party have achieved the following in their time in power:
Why Labour?
Labour believes that Britain should act as a force for good in the world as well as ensuring the safety and security of its own citizens. As a permanent member of the UN Security Council, we have a global responsibility to help reduce international conflict, combat international terrorism and weapons proliferation, and contribute to peacekeeping and peacemaking operations. To face these new threats, we must maintain strong, balanced, flexible and deployable armed forces.
In an increasingly interdependent and uncertain world, Labour will continue to work through our strong partnerships and alliances to successfully meet the challenges of the 21st century. NATO remains the cornerstone of Britain’s defence and security policy, and we are leading efforts to enhance Europe’s military capabilities for humanitarian and crisis management operations where NATO as a whole is not engaged. Tackling threats to our security from terrorism and weapons of mass destruction are vital parts of a strategy to protect British citizens and to help build a fairer, more prosperous world for all.
Key achievements
* With Labour, Britain’s Armed Forces are a force for good in the world. Alongside intensive diplomatic and humanitarian work, our armed forces have intervened to defend human rights and the rule of law in Bosnia, Kosovo, East Timor, Sierra Leone, Iraq and Afghanistan.
* Labour has ensured our Armed Forces have the support they need: the result of our consistent, increased funding for defence has meant on average, a billion pounds more for defence every year, for the last twelve years.
* We have banned exporting of equipment to those countries that are known to use them for internal repression and we were one of the first countries to ratify the Ottawa Convention banning anti-personnel landmines. At Dublin in 2008 we were at the forefront of efforts to agree a new international convention banning all cluster munitions. This major achievement builds on the Labour Government’s leadership on landmines and the Arms Trade Treaty.
* We were the first government to appoint a Minister for Veterans’ Affairs and today invest more than ever in supporting veterans. We have extended the veteran’s badge to include all those who have served in our armed forces.
* We have introduced the first ever British Armed Forces and Veterans Day to honour the achievements of our armed forces – both past and present.
* Recognising the considerable risks our armed forces face, in 2008 we agreed one of the highest pay rises in the public sector for all servicemen and women. For those on operation abroad we have introduced a tax-free monthly bonus of almost £400 and have extended council tax relief.
* As a result of Labour’s investment our service personnel have never been better equipped. Over the last three years we have delivered equipment valued at more than £10 billion to the Armed Forces
* We have doubled the amount of compensation available for the most seriously injured . a measure which will make a huge and practical difference in the lives of many of our servicemen and women and their families.
New Labour, your Britain
* Our Armed Forces are truly inspiring and it is only right that we recognise their commitment and sacrifice. In 2008 we published our strategy, the first of its kind, to improve the welfare and support we provide to our service men and women, their families and our veterans.
* We will continue to ensure that our forces receive state of the art medical care when they are injured on operations and when they recover back in the UK.
* We are committed to supporting our Armed Forces and their families which is why we will introduce free further or higher education up to first degree level for service leavers after six yearsof service; invest £8 billion over the next decade in accommodation for service personnel; introduce measures to ensure that our Armed Forces and their families retain their places on NHS waiting lists when they move; and to end disadvantage in accessing school places for service children.
* In order to help end conflicts around the world we will continue to lead the campaign for an International Arms Trade Treaty.
* We will work for international stability by working with our allies to encourage and promote economic and political change in the Middle East.
* We will proceed with the construction of two new aircraft carriers, which should sustain and create some 10,000 jobs across the UK.
Labour Party Defence Policy :http://www.labour.org.uk/defence
I would be interested to hear both positive and negative views on Labour’s Defence policies in the comments below?
I find it interesting that Iraq was missed in the list of countries helped by our armed forces! Talk about brushing that little mistake under the carpet!
I understand why we went into Afghanistan, the Taliban support terrorism against us. I think history should have taught us that Afghanistan is not an easy country to defeat/control, Russia failed for example!
Although we went into Iraq on dubious information at the time I supported the war because it should have been a positive move for the people of Iraq. Saddam Hussain was an awful leader and I don’t think anyone can seriously argue removing him was a bad idea.
David
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HARDLY A SAFER COUNTRY SINCE HE WAS DEPOSED IS IT,SURE THERE ARE PLENTY OF DESPOTS IN THE WORLD ARE WE OUT OF CONSISTANCY GOING TO REMOVE THEM ALL?!!, NO OF COURSE NOT ONE ONLY HAS TO LOOK AT SYRIA,WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION THE MAN SAID, NOTHING ABOUT REGIME CHANGE, I STILL FIND IT BEGGARS BELIEF THAT BLAIR HASN’T HAD TO ANSWER TO THE BRITISH PEOPLE FOR HIS LIES, THAT LEAD TO THE DEATH OF HUNDREDS OF BRITISH SOLDIERS,HE ALSO DEPLOYED THE ARMY IN AFGANISTAN WITH NO CLEAR OBJECTIVE AND INSUFFICENT AND WRONG EQUIPMENT, WE WERE TO THINLY SPREAD AND OUR ONE TIME PROUD ARMY HAVING TO BE BAILED OUT BY THE AMERICANS WHICH THEN LEFT US WITH NO CLEAR ROLE AND HUMILIATED, WE EVEN HAD A GO AT DAM REPAIR TO GIVE US A REASON FOR BEING THERE ONLY FOR THE MACHINERY E.T.C. TO LAY NOW RUSTING, GOOD GOD THE LAND OF WELLINGTON AND NELSON THATCHER AND CHURCHILL, I’LL SAY NO MORE!
TERRY PAYNE
IRAQ/AFGHANISTAN REGIME CHANGE
notice how they say that they are aginst all countries that abuse human rights, but nothing is ever said about baharain or saudi arabia! just shows how horribly biased they are.
and labour reduced our type 45 destroyers from 12 to 8 then 8 to 6-raise the budget lol
they are also responsible for astute going well over budjet
and for scrapping 2 helicopter carriers + having to change the design of the carriers just to cut costs in the future
dont get me wrong, i might be wrong and i understand that cuts have to be made, but seriously the Tories have so far shown they are also disinterested in defence, everytime we have a Strategic defence review it equals more cuts, there is never anything strategic about it, its a Treasury driven cost cutting exercise. With no union to represent the armed forces it’s easy pickings and if something does popup the government can always blame the previous administration, if they want to have a crappy defence force, then stop getting us involved in conflicts like Libya.
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As a conservative voter but being open minded at this important time of election..I am concerned that defence is not mentioned more when discussions arise on TV when labour are given the opportunity to talk about policy should they be elected.
With grave doubts about the labour leadership and chancellors experience …my concern is how the country would be led should they come I to power especially with the great worries in Ukraine and Russia’s actions there and other concerns where Russia is concerned which have very serious implications.
I want to know what labour s defence policy is as the country has gradually lost respect and strength of character in the world over the last century.
So Ed Milliband….as you appear weak in character ..though your voice is not…I would like you to convince me why I should consider voting labour from a defence of this country viewpoint for the sake of my grandchildren and the future of this country.
Speak Out On The Lack Of A Labour Defence Policy