A Defence Policy for the UK

Bernard Jenkin's paper for the Conservative Way Forward group, A Defence Policy for the UK, was first published in November 2007. In it, Jenkin argues that the government urgently needs to increase spending on the armed forces, defends the Ministry of Defence's most costly procurements and calls for a "bulking up" of the UK armed forces.

In the foreword, General the Lord Guthrie argues that the Strategic Defence Review of 1998 has never been properly resourced, and asks: "Why has Britain's defence been left out [of public spending programmes], particularly when today our armed servicemen and women are busier than any time since the Second World War?"

Download the full report:
http://www.conwayfor.org.uk/report.pdf

In CHAPTER ONE, Jenkin argues that British national interests depend on developing international trade, and as a result "it concludes that the demands upon UK forces to intervene in crises around the world will only intensify."
In CHAPTER TWO, Jenkin examines the legacy of Afghanistan and Iraq and argues that the 1998 SDR was never fully-funded and that as a result the armed forces are overstretched. If Britain is to retain the ability to carry out "intervention, crisis management and reconstruction," however, Jenkin argues, government needs to provide further resources.
In CHAPTER THREE, Jenkin analyses the threat deriving from global terrorism and argues that international law needs to change to recognise the threat it poses.
In CHAPTER FOUR, Jenkin criticises the concept of a European Security and Defence Policy because it would undermine NATO.
In CHAPTER FIVE, Jenkin outlines the indispensable military activities needed if Britain is to continue with its current policy.
In CHAPTER SIX, Jenkin deals with funding, and argues that "the choice facing the UK is whether to bulk up or opt out of our global role" and concludes, given the strategic situation, "our national interest demands that we bulk up".