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?