Whilst we all know that election promises aren’t really worth anything it is going to be interesting to see how things pan out in the coming months and compare those promises made in opposition with the realities of government.
I will maintain this over time but this is version 1
Party Pledge or Promise Reality
Lib Dem With strong Treasury involvement, review all major defence procurement projects through the SSDR to ensure money is being spent effectively. We will not purchase tranche 3B of the Eurofighter. Mo news on 3B but there will be strong treasury involvement in the SDR
Lib Dem Rule out the like-for-like replacement of the Trident nuclear weapons system. At a cost of £100 billion over a lifetime it is unaffordable, and Britain’s security would be better served by alternatives Trident replacement has been confirmed but value for money will come under greater scrutiny
Lib Dem Reinvigorate Franco-British and wider European defence co-operation to ensure procurement costs are kept low. Unclear, no real news or indications yet
Lib Dem Give a pay rise to the lower ranks so that their pay is brought into line with the starting salary of their emergency services counterparts. The budget has placed a pay freeze on all ranks except those on £21k or less, which is more or less Lance Corporal and below. Those under will get a few hundred pounds increase
Lib Dem We will reduce the number of civilian staff in the Ministry of Defence No news yet but can I suggest we start with diversity coordinators
Conservative establish a new Permanent Military Command for Homeland Defence and Security to provide a more structured military contribution to homeland security Interesting one this, especially since there was already one in existence
Conservative we will press other members of NATO to take their fair share of the military burden Nothing in the news as of yet
Conservative We support the decision to renew Britain’s submarine-based nuclear deterrent, based on the Trident missile system. Its looks like they are following through on this one
Conservative 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. Nothing in the news yet
Conservative We will double the operational allowance Completed, well done
Conservative maximise rest and recuperation leave No news on how they are going to achieve this yet
Conservative ensure our servicemen and women are treated in dedicated military wards in hospital Another interesting one, given they were already in place
Conservative Provide university and further education scholarships for the children of servicemen and women killed while on active duty No news yet
Conservative Immediate negotiations to achieve cost reductions from major suppliers mmm
Conservative it would also not be appropriate to make in-year reductions to the existing defence budget in 2010/11 Confirmed
Conservative We will publish all items of spending over £25,000 online No news yet
Conservative place an obligation to manage taxpayers’ money wisely at the heart of civil service employment contracts No news yet
Conservative strengthening the role of the Chief Information Officer to get a grip on government ICT projects No news yet
Conservative We will review the structure of the Ministry of Defence to reduce running costs by 25 per cent I know, lets reduce costs by running a LGBT seminar and giving GD (of BOWMAN infamy) a contract for £500million for 7 prototypes
Conservative We will reform the procurement process to ensure the delivery of equipment on time and on budget. No news yet
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5 Comments
Slighhtly off topic but
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/afghanistan/7875855/Afghanistan-British-troops-to-hand-over-northern-Helmand-to-US-Marines.html
I’m sure I said before the election that if the Tories won, we’d probably stay in Afghanistan, but we’d give up day to day patrolling.
Be interesting to see what effect a Mobile Brigade could have in Afghanistan.
Re Trident – like-for-like replacement hasn’t been confirmed (some reports say it has, others that it hasn’t – which means it hasn’t). The cost alone is likely to knock this on the head, plus the realisation that there’s not much point buying a Cold war system.
Hmm, two posts seconds apart both on how trident should be cut.
Theres a 62 comment long thread on trident if your not trolling.
Hi Dominic – no, not trolling, just 2 messages close together.
I see you foun your way to cheaper deterant, have a read, and please expand