Defence Manifesto - Liberal Democrats
International Affairs
British people used to be proud of what our country stood for. But Britain's reputation has been damaged by dodgy arms deals with dictators, allegations of involvement in torture, and of course the disastrous and illegal invasion of Iraq.
Liberal Democrats will put British values of decency and the rule of law back at the heart of our foreign policy. We will always put the country's security first. But the national interest demands that we work with allies, stand up for human rights, and help people in the poorest parts of the world.
The Conservatives cannot offer real change. They are mistrustful of international cooperation with an out-dated world view. They do not understand the need for close cooperation with allies in a globalised world. They want to pull up the drawbridge, leaving British foreign policy isolated and impotent.
Liberal Democrats believe that by working closely with our allies, Britain will have more influence on tackling international problems like poverty, climate change and terrorism. We want to see rules upheld and international law observed. To meet the challenges of economic globalisation, international terrorism and climate change, we must work effectively with our partners in the United Nations, the European Union, NATO and the WTO.
Time is running out for the mission in Afghanistan. Unless we change direction, failure is inevitable. We should be encouraging a regional peace process working towards a ceasefire and ultimately a political and constitutional settlement within Afghanistan. A strategy of political reconciliation is now necessary. A "political surge" which engages with moderates and wins them over must now be implemented. While there can be no purely military solution, our troops must be given everything they need to do their job effectively.
We will establish a full and independent public inquiry into allegations of British government involvement in torture. We will make tough rules on corruption and arms sales. We want the inquiry into the Iraq war to be open, with all meetings held in public except for reasons of national security. We also want a full judicial inquiry into British collusion in torture and "extraordinary rendition".
Defence
We ask a huge amount of our brave servicemen and women. But they have never been properly rewarded with the pay and conditions they deserve. They are sent into conflict without proper equipment, have to put up with sub-standard housing and have been stretched to the limit by two wars. Too much MoD money is frittered away through poor decisions and waste.
Liberal Democrats would make the welfare of the men and women of our armed forces a priority. We would speed up forces' family housing renovation and ensure that no serviceman or woman was sent into harm's way on less basic pay than the starting salaries of emergency services personnel. We would spend taxpayers' money more effectively on equipping our armed forces properly for the military tasks of today and tomorrow.
Labour has let down our Armed Forces. The quality of family housing is disgraceful. They have been stretched to breaking point through two wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and suffer from a lack of equipment. The Conservatives attack Labour, but many problems stem from their time in Government.
According to the Government's own report, the Ministry of Defence is £36bn in the red. Yet Labour and the Conservatives are in denial about the long-term impact of this problem. The Strategic Defence Review now underway must take a long hard look at Britain's defence and security priorities.
Britain needs to move away from a Cold War-style posture towards a more relevant armed forces structure. If we are to continue to have the capability to be a force for good in the world we need far greater cooperation with our NATO and EU partners.
Liberal Democrats do not believe that the UK can afford the billions of pounds the Government wants to spend on a like-for-like replacement of the Trident nuclear weapons system. Full-scale Trident is a cold war system that we no longer need nor can afford. We believe that less expensive alternatives should be considered.
We ask so much of our Armed Forces. But they have never been rewarded with the fair pay and conditions they deserve. They are sent into conflict without proper equipment, have to put up with sub-standard housing and have been stretched to the limit by two wars. Too much money is wasted through poor decisions and waste. The brave men and women of our armed forces are the most precious military asset we have. They must be treated fairly, with pay and conditions that reflect their amazing commitment to this country. They must get the right equipment to do their jobs properly and as securely as possible. Liberal Democrats would put the welfare of our forces first. We would ensure that no serviceman or women was sent into harm's way on less basic pay than the starting salary of a police constable. We would spend taxpayers' money more effectively on equipping our forces for the tasks of the future, not old Cold War threats.
A pay raise for the lower ranks. Our brave troops put their lives on the line for this country. But too many of them are paid a pittance in reward. Liberal Democrats will give lower ranks a pay rise, so that their pay is brought into line with the starting salary of police constables. We will also reduce the number of civil servants in the Ministry of Defence and senior officer in the Armed Forces.
Homes for heroes. Too many armed forces' families live in shoddy housing. The least our heroes and their families deserve is a decent home. We would double the rate of modernisation of forces' family homes.
No to like-for-like Trident. Full-scale Trident is a Cold War system intended for a by-gone age. It is unnecessary and, at £100bn over a lifetime, it is unaffordable. We will hold a full defence review to establish the best alternative for Britain's future security.
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