Election 2010 – Defence Manifesto (Conservative)

In a previous post I looked at the party’s defence policies, but now the manifesto’s have been published an update would seem to be in order.

This isn’t a forensic analysis of every line but a cherry picking exercise, Conservatives first then…

Available from here the manifesto is pretty light on specifics but that is the nature of manifestos.

Military

establish a new Permanent Military Command for Homeland Defence and Security to provide a more structured military contribution to homeland security

I looked at this in a previous post as the suggestion was first introduced in the Conservative policy paper, A Resilient Nation

The analysis summary is here but on this specific issue, have a read here

we will press other members of NATO to take their fair share of the military burden

I looked at this here and one of our contributing authors wrote an interesting rebuttal here

We support the decision to renew Britain’s submarine-based nuclear deterrent, based on the Trident missile system.

Good, if you are going to have a deterrent you might as well have one that is worth having, no half measures.

We will release spending on unnecessary and bureaucratic EU defence initiatives and spend the money on our Armed Forces. As part of that process, we will re-evaluate our position with the European Defence Agency.

Sounds like a good idea but the actual figures are relatively modest.

Welfare

We will double the operational allowance

This will benefit lower ranks more than senior as the OA will be greater in proportion. Who can argue that this is a bad thing but when operations cease, incomes will reduce.

maximise rest and recuperation leave

Be nicer to kittens, how will this actually be achieved?

ensure our servicemen and women are treated in dedicated military wards in hospital

No dedicated military hospital/s then, just a commitment to dedicated military wards, which we already have now.

Provide university and further education scholarships for the children of servicemen and women killed while on active duty

Tough for those kids whose parents have the damn bad manners not to get killed then!

Business

Immediate negotiations to achieve cost reductions from major suppliers

In the defence realm, what exactly is major suppliers, who knows, but the following organisations did £50million or more business with the MoD in 2008/2009.

Annington Receivables, Aspire Defence, AWE Management, Babcock Support Services, BAE Systems, Barclays Bank, BP Oil International, British Telecommunications, BVT, Carillion Enterprise, Debut Services, Defence Science & Technology Laboratory, Columbus, Devonport Royal Dockyard, EDS Defence, General Dynamics United Kingdom, Hess Energy Trading Company, Kellogg Brown & Root, Man Truck & Bus UK, Marshall Of Cambridge Aerospace, MBDA UK Ltd, Modern Housing Solutions (Prime), NETMA, OCCAR-EA2, Paradigm Secure Communications, Pride (Serp), Purple Foodservice Solutions, QinetiQ, Raytheon Systems, Rolls-Royce, Serco, Thales UK, The Boeing Company, VT, Westland Helicopters.

We will match Labour’s spending plans for 2010/11 in health and overseas aid. 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.

Whilst everyone is discussing (and the MoD are actually doing) how we can make meaningful cost reductions by stripping out capability areas the Conservative Party is stating that the Overseas Aid budget will remain protected. The defence budget is in line for a cut post SDSR in 2011/2012 onwards. If you are a third world country no need to worry about the UK gravy train hitting the buffers, you can stop worrying about feeding your people and carry on buying military air traffic control systems for example. One wonders if the Conservatives will still be sending aid money to India, a nation with an expansionist and happy shopping military, whilst cutting the defence budget?

We will publish all items of spending over £25,000 online

I can hear the defence industry squeeking about commercial confidentiality already, publication of defence spending detail is vital if the Defence Select Committe, National Audit Office and wider public can carry out any sort of scrutiny.

place an obligation to manage taxpayers’ money wisely at the heart of civil service employment contracts

DE&S staff should be concerned!

strengthening the role of the Chief Information Officer to get a grip on government ICT projects

I wonder if DII(F), JAMES, JPA etc etc will be included?

We will review the structure of the Ministry of Defence to reduce running costs by 25 per cent

Good luck with that

We will reform the procurement process to ensure the delivery of equipment on time and on budget.

Every Government since we had an armed forces has been trying to do that so again, good luck with that.

Tags: Election 2010