MP: Defence spending is too small
Today in the House of Commons, the Secretary of State for Defence, Rt Hon Ben Wallace MP, gave a statement on the situation in Ukraine.
In the Chamber, John asked,
“I know my Rt Hon Friend agrees that jaw-jaw is preferable to war-war, but does he accept that Russian ambitions in Ukraine and events elsewhere, including in the South China Sea, mean that the time has come for the UK to finally accept that we require a substantial and long-term increase in our defence spending – for jaw-jaw is far more effective if supported by strong armed forces?”
The Secretary of State did not disagree, and talked about the virtues of the NATO Alliance as also a means of deterring aggressors.
John said afterwards,
“As a founding member of both NATO and the UN, and further to individual treaties with countries, the UK will always stand up against aggressors. However, there are régimes in the world not always friendly that will take greater note of those countries that have strong armed forces and prepared, if necessary, to defend their interests. Our defence spending is too small, and this now needs to be corrected.”
