Labour will today [Friday] set out its core principles on defence
and security including commitments to NATO and the nuclear
deterrent.
In a speech to the Royal United Service Institute, MP, Labour’s Shadow Defence Secretary, will underline
Labour's determination to see defence spending produce jobs,
growth and innovation in this country.
He will say that the foundations for the Government's
long-delayed Integrated Review have been undermined by the last
decade of cuts to defence.
And he will set out tests that the Review must meet if it is to
end what the Prime Minister himself has called ‘the era of
retreat.’
On Labour's core principles on defence and security, Mr Healey
will say:
“First, Labour's commitment to NATO is unshakeable.
“Second, Labour’s support for the UK's nuclear deterrent is
non-negotiable and we want to see Britain doing more to lead
efforts to secure multilateral disarmament.
“Third, Labour’s commitment to international law and the UN, to
universal human rights and to the multilateral treaties and
organisations that uphold them is unshakable.
“And fourth, Labour’s determination to see British investment
directed first to British industry is fundamental, not just to
our thinking on defence, but on the kind of society we want to
build.”
Mr Healey will issue a direct challenge to the Government, to
learn from the mistakes of the two previous failed defence
reviews, saying:
“At a time of geopolitical uncertainty and technological change
we all need to open ourselves up to challenge. And if the
government attempts, yet again, to smother strategic decision
making in clouds of rhetoric and hubris, believe me, they will be
challenged.”
On maintaining the strength of the armed forces, Mr Healey will
say:
“We cannot any longer go fudging and fumbling our way into the
future, with major procurement projects at the mercy of the
illusion that 'something will turn up' to pay for them.”
The Shadow Defence Secretary will call upon the government to
confirm answers via the Integrated Review and will criticise the
decision to cut spending, saying:
“The revenue cut is the Achilles heel of defence plans. No other
Whitehall department is projected to have a cut in day-to-day
spending between now and 2024/5. The defence secretary should
never have agreed it.
“There are big decisions that can no longer be ducked. The
Integrated Review must confirm the answers.”
On the importance of the UK’s defence industry, he will say:
“We are the party of sovereign defence capability: we see the
steel industry, the shipyards, and aerospace and materials
industries as a national asset. We want to see a clear plan from
Government to enhance these capabilities. We want to see, for the
good of our country, as much as possible of our equipment
designed and built here.”
