英国国防大臣法伦在2014年英国保守党秋季年会上的演讲
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To address this Conference is always an honour; to do so as Defence Secretary is a privilege.
The first duty of government is to keep Britain safe.
As a Party we can be proud that not only have we tackled the largest peacetime deficit but we have also sorted the defence budget.
That’s because we have a Prime Minister who puts defence at the top of his priorities. And a Chancellor who understands that strong defence depends on a strong economy.
Four years on we have the biggest defence budget in Europe and the second largest in NATO.
Thanks to my predecessors Liam Fox and Philip Hammond, Defence is now on a secure footing so we can invest again in the Royal Navy, the Army, and the Royal Air Force.
We have the best and the bravest Armed Forces, working 24/7 across the world to protect us – often out of sight, never out of mind,
In my first week I sent HMS Enterprise to Tripoli to rescue British citizens from war-torn Libya.
…in Cyprus I met airmen and women providing humanitarian support to people in Iraq
…and here at home defending our skies; helping with the floods; and supporting the inspiring Invictus Games.
Our military embody the best of British values – selflessness, courage, discipline, and respect.
Nowhere have those values been better demonstrated than in Afghanistan where our troops are risking their lives to stop that country being a safe haven for terrorism.
By the end of this year we will bring our combat troops home.
So it is right now to pay tribute to the sacrifice of the 453 British men and women who gave their lives, and to the many who were injured.
But let’s remember their legacy:
– a 350,000 strong Afghan Security Force that we’ve helped to train
– 8 million people voting in elections this summer
– 7 million children now attending schools, almost 3 million of them girls
There can be no guarantees but we can be proud of having helped to give Afghanistan the best possible chance of a stable future.
Now we face new threats to our security…
The chilling barbarity of ISIL left unchecked would see a terrorist state on Europe’s doorstep.
We’ve already seen Islamic extremism here at home: London commuters blown up Glasgow airport attacked; Fusilier Lee Rigby murdered.
And abroad – Christians, Yazidis and other faiths slaughtered; a British hostage beheaded.
No responsible government could ignore this challenge.
So we‘ve joined our international allies including Arab states in tackling ISIL in Iraq.
Our planes have been flying daily, following Parliament’s vote, gathering intelligence, and yesterday made their first strikes in support of Kurdish ground forces.
We didn’t choose this fight but for the security of our nation we must respond.
Alongside Islamic extremism, Putin’s illegal annexation of Crimea and his troops in Eastern Ukraine remind us how dangerous the world is.
Thanks to the Defence Review we conducted we have a long-term plan to keep Britain safe and a strong ministerial team to deliver it:
First, we are reshaping our Armed Forces to make them more agile, with a military where regulars and reserves serve together.
After years of neglect by Labour, we are investing £2bn in our Reserve Forces. It’s a great opportunity – you get paid, learn new skills, and experience adventure. No wonder several hundred young people step forward each month.
Reservists make a tremendous contribution; each is truly twice a citizen.
Service as an officer in the old TA used to carry the right to use TD after your name as public recognition of your service.
So I want to see a new Reserve Decoration awarded to all who’ve served ten years, irrespective of rank.
Second, we are making sure that we have the best military hardware money can buy.
Because we’ve sorted out the budget, over the next 10 years we will spend £164 billion pounds:
The Navy is getting seven advanced hunter killer submarines…and today I am announcing a £3.3bn investment in our naval bases securing 7,500 jobs in Portsmouth, in Devonport, and on the Clyde.
The RAF will have new fleets of Fighters, more surveillance aircraft, and new transport planes.
For the Army nearly 600 Scout armoured vehicles – the largest Army equipment order for 30 years.
Third, we are strengthening NATO.
Last month’s NATO summit re-galvanised our transatlantic alliance:
Ø with the first formal public commitment by our allies to reverse the decline in defence spending
Ø with a Rapid Reaction Force that can deploy anywhere within 48 hours
Putin should be in no doubt that our collective defence is as strong as ever.
Despite the deficit we inherited, we are now spending 2% on defence and we will go on spending 2% for the rest of this spending review period.
When we discuss defence spending, some question the lower target of 0.7% of GDP on overseas aid.
I don’t see Defence and aid as opposites.
Failed states allow the poisonous ideology of Islamic extremism to fester.
Our military help tackle this through conflict prevention and stabilisation.
Defence and international aid – together securing our interests.
So we’ve put defence on a sound footing after 13 years of mismanagement which undermined Britain’s ability to defend itself.
Labour left a terrible legacy – a £38 billion budget black hole; the Covenant broken; our Reserves neglected; accommodation unfit for our heroe s.
They ordered two aircraft carriers, not even sure if they could afford to run the second one or would have to flog it.
Sorting out the defence budget has been tough. But it’s done.
The Covenant is protected in law; Forces Help to Buy has helped over 800 service personnel to buy their first home since April; and last month the Prime Minister confirmed that both our new aircraft carriers will be brought into service.
And we are delivering all this with 25,000 fewer civil servants.
And the Liberals…
The only area of defence Liberal Democrats are interested in is downgrading our continuous-at-sea nuclear deterrent for a part-time deterrent sitting in a dockyard.
In a dangerous world, that is truly dangerous thinking.
Conference, this country has always stood firm in the face of threats to our security.
This is the country that defeated fascism under Churchill, that stood up to Communism under Margaret Thatcher.
What we are fighting today is extremism.
Britain once again is defending our values, protecting freedom and democracy.
And in doing so we can rely on two enduring strengths…
The skill and courage of our Armed Forces; and the determination of the British people to get behind them.
No matter what the threat let me assure you, that this party, this government, will give our Armed Forces the backing they need to help keep Britain safe.
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