[News] UK moving to “war fighting readiness” - UK defence

[Doug-ees-evil]

That's the point - we are totally under prepared for a conflict. It will take years to boost numbers back upto where they once were.

The stats don't lie, ever since the 50's we've pretty much had falling numbers barring a few years.

Since the 50's we've had the cold war, Afghanistan, Iran, trouble in Ireland, Falklands to name a few.

And now we are potentially facing Russia and we are starting on the back foot.

Russia ..and China, Iran, N. Korea at the very least – who are all in alliance and openly collaborating on the battlefields of Ukraine.

 

[TomandJerry]

You could argue that actually if these submarines/munitions are made in the UK (no idea if they actually are) that they would create jobs/attract further investment and do just that?

"Nuclear investments will transform critical parts of the defence nuclear industry, directly supporting 30,000 highly skilled jobs up-and-down the country and the doubling of apprentice and graduate roles across the next ten years."

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/...ramme-in-response-to-strategic-defence-review

 

[TomandJerry]

Russia ..and China, Iran, N. Korea at the very least – who are all in alliance and openly collaborating on the battlefields of Ukraine.

Exactly, and we are starting on the back foot because of year on year reduction in numbers

 

[Hamilton]

1. Stupid stunts earned him a massive haul of seats, the most Lib Dems seats for over a century. Hanging from a zipwire waving a Union Flag did Boris no harm.
2. Serious stuff like we should rejoin the Customs Union with the EU, i.e. the only main party leader with the balls to say it.
3. No chance of any serious coverage for the Lib Dems whilst a huge chunk of our media is controlled by the Right. I think they could have over 100 seats and still be ignored, such is the ingrained Left vs Right animosity of our political coverage.

Back on topic, Davey is inject some urgency into proceedings. And by championing Rejoin he's the only one with a plan how to pay for it.

I half agree with you. Points all well made.

The trouble is, he doesn't event get coverage in the media not controlled by a right wing press baron. Journalists are looking for him to now move past the stunts.

 

[Doug-ees-evil]

Exactly, and we are starting on the back foot because of year on year reduction in numbers

Completely agree. It's more pressing than many realise or admit.
Of course we'd all rather spend on improving people's lives in this country and all the creaking services – but that's not the world we live in now.

To make an obvious point... we will need a hell of a lot of money to make up for decades of defense under-investment/cuts AND to also improve people's daily lives and environments. Where will it come from?

 

[WATFORD zero]

Exactly, and we are starting on the back foot because of year on year reduction in numbers

If you think that is bad, you should see what they've done to our cavalry regiments.

I really don't want to be sarcastic, but whatever we are now investing in is for 2035, not 1945.

 

[Albion in the north]

Weve a generation of kids and young adults that have done little but play video games in their bedrooms. If only that could come in handy......

 

[Comrade Sam]

Sorry haven't read the thread, but FFS the money is always there for arms. Are we under threat from Israel? Any excuse to pump money into the arms industry. As we've seen over the last 2 decades the threat is not from conventional armies and the Russian invasion of the Ukraine, contrary to what every greasy politician and retired general has claimed, has proved that Putin is no threat. He has lost at least treble the number of young men as in Afghanistan and is no closer to beating the Ukraine, do people seriously think he could turn on Poland or any other NATO country.
Fund the NHS, welfare, pensions, social housing, pay increases, education and less of this dick waggling toss.

 

[WATFORD zero]

Weve a generation of kids and young adults that have done little but play video games in their bedrooms. If only that could come in handy......

I have a horrible feeling that is where a significant proportion of our defence spending should go.

Not great for those who get off on Boats, Subs, Planes, Missiles, and thousands of fit young people full of testosterone with guns. The future belongs to the geeks

 

[The Fits]

Russia can barely defeat Ukraine. They’ll be bankrupt before that happens and some of you are worried about them travelling the entire length of Europe to give us a slap. Because why exactly?
Let’s worry about other things and spend the money on something more sensible.

 

[GT49er]

1. Stupid stunts earned him a massive haul of seats, the most Lib Dems seats for over a century. Hanging from a zipwire waving a Union Flag did Boris no harm.
2. Serious stuff like we should rejoin the Customs Union with the EU, i.e. the only main party leader with the balls to say it.
3. No chance of any serious coverage for the Lib Dems whilst a huge chunk of our media is controlled by the Right. I think they could have over 100 seats and still be ignored, such is the ingrained Left vs Right animosity of our political coverage.

Back on topic, Davey is inject some urgency into proceedings. And by championing Rejoin he's the only one with a plan how to pay for it.

Becoming the main net contributor to EU funds again will free up ..................... how much, exactly?

European nations are our friends and neighbours.
Full co-operation on matters of security and defence (and international crime)? - yes, absolutely.
Some usefully beneficial free trade/customs agreements? - yes.
The full shebang, Brussels, European Parliament and all that?} No, the above two cover everything that's worthwhile.

 

[beorhthelm]

Russia can barely defeat Ukraine. They’ll be bankrupt before that happens and some of you are worried about them travelling the entire length of Europe to give us a slap. Because why exactly?
Let’s worry about other things and spend the money on something more sensible.

we should just sit it out, leave Nato and let europe, Poland and the Baltics do everything then?

 

[oneillco]

Lots of comments on here sniping at Starmer and Labour, but they have been in government for only 1 year and have committed to funding defence to a more appropriate level. Prior to that we had 14 years of Conservative government neglect and defence spending cuts.

 

[Thunder Bolt]

Weve a generation of kids and young adults that have done little but play video games in their bedrooms. If only that could come in handy......

You’d be surprised. I belong to a couple of Naval Associations that have connections to Sea cadets, and Nautical Training Corps, and my husband has a god daughter in the Army cadets.
Many kids like going rafting, yachting and camping at the weekends. They’re not all couch potatoes. Having said that, gaming skills are also useful.

 

[Albion in the north]

You’d be surprised. I belong to a couple of Naval Associations that have connections to Sea cadets, and Nautical Training Corps, and my husband has a god daughter in the Army cadets.
Many kids like going rafting, yachting and camping at the weekends. They’re not all couch potatoes. Having said that, gaming skills are also useful.

There are plenty that do, but the next war (if or when that happens) wont be anything like the last ones. I think whats going on in Ukraine shows that.

 

[GT49er]

Russia can barely defeat Ukraine. They’ll be bankrupt before that happens and some of you are worried about them travelling the entire length of Europe to give us a slap. Because why exactly?

Because they have been programmed to hate us, to believe we're going to invade them unless they attack us first.

Let’s worry about other things and spend the money on something more sensible.

Yeh, Let's go all 1938 then. We all know Neville Chamberlain was right, don't we? How about a nice sing-song, eh?

 

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

Weve a generation of kids and young adults that have done little but play video games in their bedrooms. If only that could come in handy......

Millions of teenagers in their bedrooms, each flying a drone into the heart of Mother Russia.
The more I think about it, the more I like it.

 

[dejavuatbtn]

Millions of teenagers in their bedrooms, each flying a drone into the heart of Mother Russia.
The more I think about it, the more I like it.

Just when they thought their career path was as an Amazon delivery drone pilots.

 

[WATFORD zero]

Becoming the main net contributor to EU funds again will free up ..................... how much, exactly?

European nations are our friends and neighbours.
Full co-operation on matters of security and defence (and international crime)? - yes, absolutely.
Some usefully beneficial free trade/customs agreements? - yes.
The full shebang, Brussels, European Parliament and all that?} No, the above two cover everything that's worthwhile.

So how do you think the Brexit that you voted for (and apparently new exactly what you voted for) has gone for the UK defence policy ?

Maybe we should give the economic, immigration, protect our borders bollox a wide steer until later because I'm sure you can't you still be naive/stupid enough to think we can still cherry pick anything we want from the EU

 

[WATFORD zero]

Millions of teenagers in their bedrooms, each flying a drone into the heart of Mother Russia.
The more I think about it, the more I like it.

It is a mixture of worrying and brilliant as we sit here in 2025.