UK general election live: Jacob Rees-Mogg praises Trump as he suggests border wall in the channel
Guardian1 day
The Facts
Overview: The UK maintains the world's fourth largest defense budget ($70B) according to the Ministry of Defence (MOD), behind only Russia ($88B), China ($242B), and the US ($767B). Full-time UK Armed Forces personnel sat at 131K as of October 2023, with nearly 30K Reserves, while the MOD supported a total of 406K jobs in 2021-22. A member of NATO, the UK states that it has met its commitment to spend at least 2% of national GDP on defense expenditure since 2006, and since 1969 the Royal Navy has maintained at least one nuclear-armed ballistic missile submarine patrolling the seas at all times — titled the continuous-at-sea deterrent (CASD).
Current State: A report released by the bipartisan House of Commons Defence Committee published in February 2024 claimed that the UK Armed Forces are “deployed above their capacity” due to a “worsening security situation.” The committee stated that there were “capability shortfalls and stockpile shortages,” and alleged that it had been “hampered… by a lack of Government transparency.” Over the last three years, full-time army, navy, and air force personnel have fallen by 7%, 5%, and 6%, respectively.
The Spin
Tory narrative
The UK is a country renowned for championing security, a pillar of society that only the Conservative Party are willing to take seriously. The public need reassurance that the Armed Forces will be sufficiently resourced during an increasingly dangerous era, and the Labour Party have shown they're not willing to match Tory commitments to 2.5% GDP spending and aspirations for 3.0%. It's essential that come election day voters choose the party they truly trust to ensure the safety of UK democracy.
Labour narrative
Labour must be realistic with the British public over the condition of UK military capabilities. With the Conservatives likely election losers, Sunak’s ability to make blind funding promises is not a luxury Starmer and the opposition can afford. Labour’s promise of a year one military review is a sensible first step in initiating a frank and honest conversation over how the military can be reformed within tight fiscal conditions.
Reform narrative
The UK’s Armed Forces has been taken over by a fixation on diversity instead of defense. Military policies are now decided by a woke agenda instead of a focus on securing the nation’s future. The entire political elite have adopted a political agenda that, if continued, will only deepen the military’s recruitment crisis and cement the UK’s status as a laughing stock.
Progressive narrative
Sunak’s surprise election call is a superficial attempt to gain a popular mandate before NATO inevitably enters direct conflict with Russia. Irrespective of whether Labour or the Tories secure victory, the UK will remain a puppet to the US’ military ambition and it's clear that either leader will happily oblige in sustaining the success of the military-industrial complex.