So it would seem that amidst the belt tightening in Defence, about 7% to 8% depending on how it is measured, the EU is not feeling the same pain. David Cameron has managed the herculean task of restricting the EU budget increase to 2.9%, or about £430 million. Remember, this is an increase, not total
We can brush the fact that nothing is actually confirmed under the carpet for now and stand back slack jawed in amazement.
What does £430 million pounds buy in the world of defence these days?
- 860 Ocelot Light Protected Vehicles to replace the Snatch Land Rover
- The salaries of 25,273 army privates for a year
- A couple of C17 transport aircraft
- 8,600 Javelin missiles
- Half a squadron of Typhoon fighter jets
- 143,000 sets of Osprey body armour
Well done Dave, remember these…
I am passionately pro-defence, passionately pro our armed forces. I will not take any risks with Britain’s defence
My biggest duty as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom is to our Armed Forces and to make sure that they have all the equipment and all of the protection that they need to do the absolutely vital job that they are doing
Keep up the fight. See my comments about traitor Cameron on ConHome website.
but he hasnt, the doctor explains it better, but ‘peace in our time’ was a more accurate view on the outcome of negociations.
He’s got 13 of 27, a minority, of the council of europe, to ask another body that sets the increase to stay below 2.9%
they can whip through 50% and pass a motion asking david to go fuck himself.
Dave has one weapon and only one weapon, walking out the door, but he put that beyond use, the boys a joke.
i hope they get their 6% seeing as they have just passed a motion to double their champagne order (nicely published in national press) and continue to publically piss the extra 435 million up the wall. Then even rational people will start voting for UKIP and other type parties ( i refuse to mention the obvious other party) Only then will call me dave sit up and realise that it’s time for a referendum. Personnally i say stuff europe, it’s now full of skint countries who are in effect leeching of the prospurous. (note all the skint countries didn’t sign davey boys petition) time to sign up for trade agreements with other countries US,japan etc and then load up the ferries with the undiserables. First to be on the deck would be that tw@t just released from prison urging people to not wear poppies as all the british army are murderers. as my old CO used to say to me, “get out”
Perhaps the blog needs the name tinkering with to reflect the actualite of life at war under the new Government:
Shrink Defence has a ring to it.
It is beyond me why nobody has held the architect of SDSR to account for what turned out as a pathetic cuts exercise. Still, if Northern Ireland becomes a problem in 5 years time, take comfort in the thought it will be French troops patrolling.
Shrink Defence, like that Jennings!!
We will do our best to highlight the issues in our SDSR series
The EU is a fcuking disgrace. I only just heard they had not balanced their books for over 30 years. Not surprised the billions they have wasted over the years. It’s bad enough that the ministers love a champagne lifestyle but to take our taxes give it to undeserving corrupt states I’d another. The final insult is that it appears that EU allows unemployed scroungers who get fuck all in their own shit hole of a country to come to ours and be given homes money and free healthcare.
No wonder the country is skint. Too many taking out and precious few paying in!!!
“I am passionately pro-defence, passionately pro our armed forces. I will not take any risks with Britain’s defence”
I have been casting a jaded eye over Dave’s euro-skeptic credentials for some time, and its not clear clear at all that he is living up to even the limited promises of the conservative election manifesto.
http://jedibeeftrix.wordpress.com/2010/05/31/opportunity-or-threat-3-%E2%80%93-has-the-coalition-scuppered-camerons-eu-plans/
This additional £430million will also help fund the 90% increase in the EU ‘Entertainment and Representation’ budget that MEP’s recently voted for.
Strangely enough for someone who left the mother country for a better life the colonies (oops, shouldn’t say that !) I have always been “Euro-centric” and once naively thought the best thing to do was to change things form the inside, by being thoroughly involved…..
then I grew up…. As mentioned the books have never been balanced (not the EU books though, it has not been in existence 30 years). The European Commission in its way seems as corrupt as the Russian parliament, or the “vested interest” system of the U.S. houses.
I know honestly believe the UK would be best off by “doing a Norway” – keep the involvements in the ‘single / common markets’ but remove the country from every other vestige of EC, Euro-Parliament etc.
very much agreed Jed.
without getting to ranty.
The eu cant be reformed from within.
It was designed from the outset to make that impossible.