Tories' iron resolve will keep Britain safe, Sunak says at launch of party manifesto
Only the Conservatives can be trusted to keep Britain safe, Rishi Sunak has said at the launch of the party's general election manifesto.
Mr Sunak was speaking at Silverstone as he announced the Tories' ambitions if they win the election, accompanied by the slogan 'Clear Plan, Bold Action, Secure Future'.
The PM did not take long to address the issue of defence in his speech, and started by claiming the Conservatives "know that security is essential for success".
"That's why we're raising defence investment to 2.5% of GDP by 2030 to deal with the increasingly uncertain world that we live in," he said.
"This is the biggest sustained increase in the defence budget since the end of the Cold War and one that [Labour leader] Keir Starmer will not match.
"And when there is a war in Europe, turmoil in the Middle East, China flexing its muscles in the South China Sea, we're in a world of increasing threats and we must show our enemies that this country, with our allies, will stand strong."
Mr Sunak said the "axis of authoritarian states" – Russia, China, Iran and North Korea – need to know they cannot "destabilise our world".
"Now is the time for bold action, not an uncertain Keir Starmer as our prime minister," Mr Sunak said.
"Now our increase in defence investment will not only fire up our defence industrial base, creating good jobs here at home from Barrow to Lossiemouth, but allow us to stand up for our interests, deter our enemies and defend our values."
But what are the Conservatives aiming to do?
Below are Forces News' key takeaways from the manifesto.
A new National Service
The Conservative manifesto said the party would "reinvent National Service" to allow young people to both learn life skills and "build a stronger national culture".
It said the new format would be compulsory, but 18-year-olds would be given a number of choices which would include one option of a year-long, full-time placement in the military or cyber defence.
The Tories said this would be "competitive and paid" to allow the Armed Forces to "recruit and train the brightest and the best".
Increasing spending at home and across Nato
The Tories said they would increase the UK's defence spending to 2.5% and look to ensure all Nato partners did the same - the 2.5% figure is also an aim of both the Labour Party and Liberal Democrats.
According to the manifesto, this would see an increase in collective spend across the alliance by £140m.
This would see the Tories try to "set a new baseline of 2.5% for all Nato allies by 2030".
The manifesto said this increase would see the Conservatives "invest in the vital capabilities of the future, to give our Armed Forces the best equipment to do their job".
Tech, Ukraine and the UK defence industry
The manifesto outlined three main priorities: boosting the UK defence industrial base, accelerating the modernisation of the Armed Forces and guaranteeing support for Ukraine.
The plan to achieve the first would be giving industry certainty to produce the needed equipment, with £10bn going into the production of munitions.
Increasing the speed at which the UK Armed Forces are modernised would see research and development receive 5% of the defence budget.
Finally, the Tory manifesto said Ukraine would get what it needs for the long haul, "assuring current levels of support for as long as they are required".
The manifesto also outlined plans to get more military supplies to Kyiv and use "immobilised Russian assets to support Ukraine".
Veterans
The Tories said they were proud to have created the United Kingdom's first Office for Veterans' Affairs and would maintain the office and retain a dedicated Minister for Veterans' Affairs in Cabinet.
The manifesto also outlined plans to keep the base budget at £10m through the next Parliament, keep the National Insurance holiday for those who employ veterans and bring forward measures to make sure the War Pensions and Armed Forces Compensation Scheme awards do not count as income "for the purpose of benefits and pensions".
Plans to extend the visa fees waiver over Commonwealth personnel, to cut the Veterans Railcard costs and ensure Veterans ID cards are valid at elections were also outlined.
The Conservatives also said they would pass the UK's first Veterans Bill to make sure the rights of veterans are enshrined in law.
Being a global military leader
The Tories said in their manifesto the UK's defence priority remains the defence of Great Britain.
But it also said the UK has "a record in standing up to those who threaten our security and values" and needs to be prepared to "tackle the axis of authoritarian states and hostile actors who are working together to threaten international security".
The manifesto also outlined plans to increase relations with partners and continue to invest in "collective security through groups like the G7, Five Eyes and Nato".
The Conservatives also outlined plans to "maintain our special relationship" with the US, publish a new Soft Power policy and strengthen the Commonwealth.
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