DAVID CAMERON flips back to the UK from Paris to deliver the National Security Strategy and Strategic Defence, Security Review for the next five years. RMT Union not at all impressed over substantial job losses..

The Hon Jeremy Corbyn MP. Drone alone..

Julian Bray Aviation Security and Ops. Expert writes: Prime Minister David Cameron has just sat down and Jeremy Corbyn is launching into his response... so what did Cameron say and how is he the best person to decide on the UK's future security needs? He is after all quitting in a few years time... 

There are still gaping holes in his proposed strategy, and not a word on where the soldiers, sailors and airmen of tomorrow are to come from. These days you have to be highly qualified to operate the technical kit,  the forces are expected to use. No matter how up to date your 'x-box' is.

But here goes: The Prime Minister set out details of the National Security Strategy and Strategic Defence and Security Review for the next five years.

 

There will be £178billion of spending on defence equipment over the next decade, which is £12billion more than planned.

The plan is to create 2 new 'strike brigades' but they won't be fully up to strength until 2025. They will be resourced to be rapidly deployed, thousands of miles away if necessary.
 
A new SCOUT range of vehicles, including some 600 armoured vehicles, will be available to the strike brigades and other military units. 

9 new USA built Boeing P8 maritime patrol aircraft to carry out surveillance at Sea and help track submarines and ships, in addition protecting Britain's nuclear deterrent and aircraft carriers.

The shopping list includes USA built 42 new F35 Lightning stealth fighter jets, including 12 operating from each of the new aircraft carriers HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales. 

At least one new aircraft carrier to deploy all year, with 24-hour air operations.  Two additional Typhoon squadrons are being created by substantially extending the life of the aircraft for 10 years through to 2040, seven in total with 12 aircraft each. Plus a few Drones...


On the down side is the news that new Type 26 combat ships built in Scotland are to be cut from 13 to around eight. A modest 15 percent increase in the 12,700-strong staff of the security and intelligence agencies MI5, MI6 and GCHQ.  Recruitment of an additional highly trained 1,900 personnel is required. 


A major change is that the UK Foreign aid budget 'to be refocused on fragile States which poise a direct threat to British security.' So on first reading, if you want to benefit from UK aid,  you now have to pose a threat ?

After five years of austerity, the Prime Minister is spending billions more on defence equipment to meet the defined NATO target of 2 per cent of national income being used for defence purposes.

 

David Cameron  also pledged to spend 0.7 per cent of GDP on foreign aid, insisting the development budget should be refocussed on fragile states which could pose a threat to Britain.

 

There will be more fighter jets, warships and armoured vehicles, while 1,900 'spooks' or spies  are to be recruited in the fight against terror.

 

Some 10,000 military personnel will be available to support the police in dealing with the type of terrorist attacks we have seen in Paris. He confirmed longer-term plans to create two fully resourced 5,000-strong 'strike brigades' which would be able to deploy anywhere in the world from 2025.

But he claimed the immediate threat posed by ISIS has triggered a rethink of the role of the armed forces in a marauding gun attack in the UK. Senior police chiefs have repeatedly warned against cuts, and one has taken early retirement, all worried about additional cuts to forces' budgets in this week's spending review. The main fear is they might struggle to cope in the event of an attack in Britain.

 

Mr Cameron told a packed House of Commons, he had authorised a 'new contingency plan to deal with major terrorist attacks'.

 

He added: 'Under this new operation, up to 10,000 military personnel will be available to support the police in dealing with the type of shocking terrorist attack we have seen in Paris. On a lighter note no further mention of his new toy CONAIR One or as we prefer British Cameronian. Clearly many former British colonies are going to see a substantial reduction in aid from the UK. So many 'charity' projects and lavish palaces may be put at risk.  

Meanwhile the review has upset the RMT Union as there are substantial job losses. Maritime union RMT warns over threatened cuts to Royal Fleet Auxiliary from Government Defence Review

The RMT commented "With speculation growing that civilian defence faces the prospect of the loss of up to 12,000 jobs from this afternoon’s Defence Review announcement, alongside a programme of privatisation, maritime union RMT, which represents staff across the Royal Navy supply lifeline, the Royal Fleet Auxiliary, has warned of the consequences of any attack on the organisation."

RMT General Secretary Mick Cash added: “RMT has fought off successive attempts by previous Governments to privatise the Royal Fleet Auxiliary but the Tories, as ever are threatening to go one step further and slash thousands of civilian jobs, including in the Royal Fleet Auxiliary which is the key to maintaining the UK’s international defence capability. Cutting or privatising the RFA would be a disaster for the UK’s security capacity at this dangerous time and for the future of UK merchant navy seafarers.”

“RMT will fight any programme of cuts or privatisation at the RFA if it emerges this afternoon that that is what the Government are planning.”

National Secty. Steve Todd added: “RMT needs the full details of what this Government is planning but the timing of this announcement is not encouraging. The Government consultation over their plans for the UK’s future defence strategy only closed 10th November and the public should be made fully aware of the risk to the long term security of the UK from short term, rushed decisions over defence funding. Cutting civilian support to the military, including the Royal Fleet Auxiliary which is the largest employer of civilian UK seafarers would be a terrible betrayal of the country’s long term maritime security needs.”

 

Defence review raises prospect of over 600 jobs losses and privatisation at Royal Navy lifeline the RFA

Royal Fleet Auxiliary union RMT warned today that the Royal Navy’s supply line, the RFA, faces job reductions of over 600 as part of a 20,000 jobs cull at the MOD – along with the possibility of wholesale or part-privatisation.

RMT General Secretary Mick Cash said:

“RMT has fought off successive attempts by previous Governments to privatise the Royal Fleet Auxiliary but the Tories, as ever are threatening to go one step further and slash thousands of civilian jobs, including in the Royal Fleet Auxiliary which is the key to maintaining the UK’s international defence capability. Cutting or privatising the RFA would be a disaster for the UK’s security capacity at this dangerous time and for the future of UK merchant navy seafarers.”

“RMT will fight any programme of cuts or privatisation at the RFA if it emerges when the details are confirmed that that is what the Government are planning.”

National Secretary Steve Todd added:

“RMT needs the full details of what this Government is planning but the timing of this announcement is not encouraging. The Government consultation over their plans for the UK’s future defence strategy only closed 10th November and the public should be made fully aware of the risk to the long term security of the UK from short term, rushed decisions over defence funding. Cutting civilian support to the military, including the Royal Fleet Auxiliary which is the largest employer of civilian UK seafarers would be a terrible betrayal of the country’s long term maritime security needs.”

 

Sources: BBC, CNS, PA, Daily Mail, RMT,


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