According to the Conservative Party website the Conservative Party will try to achieve the following if they gain power at the 2010 general election:
The soldiers, sailors, airmen, marines, civilians, and their families that make up our Armed Forces are the backbone of this nation’s security. But a decade of neglect by Labour has left them overstretched, undermanned, and in possession of worn-out equipment.
A Conservative Government will match resources with commitments by launching a Strategic Defence Review and introducing a US-style system of quadrennial defence reviews. It is completely unacceptable that the last Strategic Defence Review was conducted a decade ago.
Future defence procurement projects will be determined on five criteria:
* Capability
* Interoperability
* Adaptability
* Affordability
* Exportability
We will streamline the procurement process to ensure the speedy delivery of equipment to the front line. And we will immediately reinstate the Defence Export Services Organisation (DESO) to ensure a healthy UK defence sector.
We will oppose the defence provisions in the Lisbon Treaty and ensure that Nato, not the EU, remains the cornerstone of our nation’s defence. And we are committed to maintaining the UK’s nuclear deterrent.
Most importantly, a Conservative Government will repair the broken Military Covenant, respect our Armed Forces, and ensure that Forces’ families and veterans are taken care of.
Our Military Covenant Commission has recommended better ways of taking care of service members and their families. The Commission’s report will provide the basis for our Armed Forces manifesto which will establish a strong relationship between the Armed Forces and the next Conservative Government.
Conservative Party Defence Policy :http://www.conservatives.com/Policy/Where_we_stand/Defence.aspx
I would be interested to hear both positive and negative views on Conservative’s Defence policies in the comments below?
To whom it may concern ,
i am in the Armed Forces and have been serving for 10 years , i have deployed twice to Iraq and twice to Afganistan from 2003 so in the last 7 years i have been away serving for 4 years in far away lands , i feel that now i am older and wiser we have been let down on a large scale by our Goverment , i have took alot of risks due to not getting the right kit etc in my eyes we should get the best kit going not the cheapest ! alot of the kit i take on ops is my own money from my own pocket which is not far especially for the young lads who are on a much lower wage a good pair of boots costs £150 plus a good patrol bag £140 = £290 and for a pte who only earns £900 per month its not exceptable.
Our wages if i go on exercise to Canada i get more money serving there than i do going to Afganistan why ?? if i go to Salisbury Plain for an exercise for over 10 days i get them same amount as i do in Afganistan far enough we do get our op bonous of £2500 put that is nothing for getting shot at every day and living in the worsed possible conditions .
Our families yes we do get it good when it comes to the cost of living on a Army camp , but we have to live with Damp on every room in the house which nothing gets done about it we clean it our selves then a week later it is back and that is every house which i know about were i am stationed , when Gordon Brown came to Afganistan i refused to meet him coz i was not going to smile and just say everything was alright becouse it not , i feel that the Labour Party has not got a clue when it comes down to the Armed forces .
if i vote Conservatives why would it be a good choice for me and my Family ?
thanks for your time
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You’re a noob mate I earn £4350 a month cos i am sick with a noobtube I will DEAD OUT ANYONE NO MATTER HOW GOOD YOUR BOOTS ARE.
Their policies sounds hopeful, they will double the operational bonuses and pledge to match defence resources to commitments. They also pledge to streamline procurement to ensure speedy delivery of equipment to the front line.
I was a forces child and I remember quarters which were being slowly upgraded as I was growing up! No central heating in particular only a gas fire in the lounge during the coldest of winters! (No wonder I’m cold sensitive and live in the hottest place in the world! :-))
I don’t remember my father or any of my uncles having to buy kit themselves during the 80’s and early 90’s when they were serving.
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i’d like to see some commitment to the typhoon programme which not only provides thousands of british jobs, also provides the british armed forces with the effective air power that they deserve! Its crucial to defending british troops!
Where do military personnel get off expecting extra money when they are sent to war?
They seem to be happy enough to sign up, do basic training, study a trade of somesort at military college and constantly train or serve as peace keepers. But heaven forbid a soldior get sent to war and they think they deserve more money? I dont agree with the war on iraq at all, I often wonder if anyone is still looking for Osama? But I do agree service men and women should be supplied with the suitable kit. But as for your wages. Get over yourselves! Your doing your jobs!Not defending your country!?!
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