You have to ask yourself if Philip Hammond, the Defence Secretary, wants to answer any questions he hasn’t already written the answer for.   Below is a copy of an email sent out by government whips last week to Tory backbenchers with questions for them to ask at Defence Questions later today in the Commons. [...]

The Labour Party’s purpose is to create and lead change. Not for its own sake, but change in line with the progressive passions and priorities that brought us in to our movement. That is why we are a party which restlessly seeks government, the lever by which we can deliver our goals. But we must [...]

Please see below text of a speech I delivered today at Reform think tank. Advanced and Affordable Defence Policy I am delighted to have the opportunity to speak today. Reform is a home for strategic thinking and intellectual curiosity and this event is certainly in that spirit. My argument today is that value for money [...]

Jim Murphy MP, Labour’s Shadow Defence Secretary, responding to comments by General Sir David Richards, the Chief of the Defence Staff, on cuts to the UK Armed Forces, said: “The head of UK Armed Forces has now said in public what many have been saying in private. “Cuts to the Royal Navy mean we have [...]

The complexity of the Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) threat is deeply challenging and is not yet universally understood. New weaponry can be developed and new opportunities arise for states and non-state actors who aim to cause mass destruction. The vast majority of nations are good global citizens that adhere to international non-proliferation obligations. [...]

On Remembrance Sunday we should all reflect that our Armed Forces are central not just to our national security but our national character. They embody the values we seek to uphold at home and overseas. Theirs is a patriotism and professionalism around which we can all unite in support.   Our Forces’ actions provide stability for [...]

Yesterday, the government announced a public consultation on the future of reservists.  We support an enhanced role for reserve forces as we know they can make a bigger contribution to regular forces and our country’s ability to project force around the world to achieve national ambitions. In recent years reservists have operated in the Balkans, [...]

Jim Murphy MP today responded to a government statement on Army reservists. You can read Jim’s response to the statement below.  Mr Speaker,   It was disappointing that this announcement was not made first to Parliament, but let me start by saying we welcome much of its content.    Our Reserve Forces can make an [...]

It has been reported today that red tape is preventing the recruitment of Reservists and that there is a backlog of applicants.     This news brings more uncertainty for the military community.  Even the Tory MP who co-authored the policy has now said it isn’t working. Following government cuts to manpower, the UK’s ability to [...]

Labour is calling for a new tough code of conduct for military personnel who seek work in the commercial sector, the defence companies that employ them and senior MoD civil servants. The aim of this code is to prevent military figures from having undue influence over defence procurement once having left the military and to [...]