A view of the defence policies of the Social Democrats Party.

I reproduce below the defence policy pledges of the SDP taken from the Party's website - I hope they don't mind!  

The aim of enlarging the size of the Army and the Navy's surface fleet is especially to my liking - "quantity has a quality all its own" as someone once said!  Be that as it may, support for yet another "rebirth" of the Fleet Air Arm would be welcome.  I believe the country should return to its traditional policy of having a strong navy to protect its merchant shipping routes while avoiding at all costs entangling the Army in overseas expeditions. 

It is surprising that no mention is made of the RAF, but in future I would hope to see priority given to purchasing aircraft which were suitable for seaborne operations. In such circumstances RAF and Fleet Air Arm squadrons would have the flexibility and interchangeability to operate from land or sea as required.

All the policies advocated below are eminently sensible and should appeal to patriotic centrist voters.

POLICY PLEDGES:

• Maintain Britain’s membership of NATO and observe the NATO target of spending a minimum of 2% of GDP on defence.
• Maintain the independence of the British Military and resist any attempt to absorb it into a European Army.
• In keeping with our membership of the UN Security Council, Britain shall play a full part in fully authorised UN peacekeeping missions.
• Maintain and update Britain’s nuclear defence capabilities – essential in a world where unstable regimes have, or are, developing a nuclear capability.
• The size of the British Army will be increased and recruitment shall be put back under Army control.
• Complete the Carrier programme and related air/naval investment to make and keep HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales fully operational.  Aircraft carriers will form an integral part of our ability to protect our Overseas Territories. A larger surface fleet is also necessary to protect the Carriers.
• Learn from the mistakes of recent decades in relation to UK involvement in foreign wars.  Future decisions on defence spending will focus primarily on the defence of British territory.
• Increase spending on Intelligence to combat terrorism and cyber-warfare as a proportion of the overall defence budget and commit to the UK’s continued participation in the ‘five eyes’ security system.
• Build the UK’s own Satellite Navigation system with trusted partners such as Canada and Australia.
• Offer a significantly enhanced deal for our veterans.  Increase housing priority, dedicated medical services, and reduce employers’ National Insurance for employment in the first two years after leaving the armed service, giving businesses a clear incentive to employ veterans.