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Defence review call from Lib Dems Forces 'deserve care guarantee'
(about 1 hour later)
Members of the armed forces should be given a written guarantee they will be properly cared for after risking their lives at war, the Lib Dems have said.Members of the armed forces should be given a written guarantee they will be properly cared for after risking their lives at war, the Lib Dems have said.
The party is calling for the first strategic and security review of UK defence capability in 10 years.The party is calling for the first strategic and security review of UK defence capability in 10 years.
It warns that without one the military covenant - between Britain's armed forces and the society they serve - will be broken irreparably. A paper by former Lib Dem leader Sir Menzies Campbell warns the military covenant - between the armed forces and society - could be broken irreparably.
A paper by former Lib Dem leader Sir Menzies Campbell is due to be outlined. It urges the government to prevent a "dangerous period of drift".
He said the last review, in 1998, had not predicted the costs of fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan. 'Running hot'
Underfunded His paper, No Choice but Change, argues that the Strategic Defence Review of 1998 did not predict the costs of fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan.
His paper, No Choice but Change, contains an estimate from the Royal United Services Institute which suggests that the Ministry of Defence's procurement plans for new equipment are now underfunded by up to £15bn over a 10-year period. Sir Menzies said: "Our military has been 'running hot' for years; its budget is in crisis and there are huge deficiencies in the quality, quantity and utility of the military equipment available for operations.
Sir Menzies argues that the case for a new review is now compelling. "Our armed forces are qualitatively second to none in the world. They do a phenomenal job for our country every day, without challenging the wisdom of their deployment, but there are now tough choices to be made.
Since 1998, Britain's forces have been fighting wars that far exceed the assumptions made a decade ago, it adds.
FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programmeFROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programme
Sir Menzies is expected to say that operations in Iraq and Afghanistan have stretched Britain's forces well beyond what they were resourced to undertake. "We have come to a point where there is no choice but change. Either our armed forces should do less and differently, or we need increases in the defence budget which will be difficult to justify to taxpayers."
Sir Menzies' paper contains an estimate from the Royal United Services Institute which suggests that the Ministry of Defence's procurement plans for new equipment are now underfunded by up to £15bn over a 10-year period.
'Damaging'
He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme the military covenant was at risk, saying: "In a sense they give up the kind of employment rights that people like you and I would regard as being fundamental.He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme the military covenant was at risk, saying: "In a sense they give up the kind of employment rights that people like you and I would regard as being fundamental.
"But when you impose upon them [armed forces] operational strain to the extent that we have seen in recent years, then my view is you are in breach of that covenant, but in addition you are severely damaging your effectiveness.""But when you impose upon them [armed forces] operational strain to the extent that we have seen in recent years, then my view is you are in breach of that covenant, but in addition you are severely damaging your effectiveness."
BBC defence correspondent Caroline Wyatt says the paper is a plea not so much for more money for upgrading military accommodation, or buying more helicopters for Afghanistan, but for an urgent public debate. BBC defence correspondent Caroline Wyatt said the paper was a plea not so much for more money for upgrading military accommodation, or buying more helicopters for Afghanistan, but for an urgent public debate.
According to Sir Menzies, this should focus on the role the UK wants its armed forces to play at home and abroad - and to fund that role properly.According to Sir Menzies, this should focus on the role the UK wants its armed forces to play at home and abroad - and to fund that role properly.
The paper warns British defence policy has entered a "dangerous period of drift". His paper describes the military as "overstretched" and the defence budget as being in crisis, risking real problems in the future in generating, deploying and sustaining Britain's fighting power.
It describes the military as "overstretched" and the defence budget as being in crisis, risking real problems in the future in generating, deploying and sustaining Britain's fighting power.