Parties Tackle Defence At RUSI Debate

Senior representatives from five main political parties discussed defence and security at a special debate organised by the Royal United Services Institute.

Labour Shadow Defence Secretary Nia Griffith clashed with Defence Procurement Minister Harriett Baldwin over Conservative plans for managing the armed forces budget.

Scottish National Party defence spokesman Brendan O’Hara said Tory plans to spend 2% of GDP on defence was not enough to hold on to Britain's nuclear weapons, while the Green Party's Dr Rebecca Johnson voiced her frustration at some of the answers offered by other representatives to the audience. 

Liberal Democrats spokesman Lord Wallace warned that spending on equipment would lead to cuts in personnel.

Former Royal Marine James Glancy accused the representatives of ‘cross-party complacency’ and called on them to commit to spending more than the NATO minimum of 2% on defence. Four of the parties said they will hold an immediate defence review after the general election, while the Conservatives said it was not part of their manifesto.