The Defence Review

With much fanfare and pre-briefing the UK Government has announced its widely anticipated defence review.

The identification of cyber warfare and terrorism as the major security threats of the forthcoming decades is clearly correct. During the General Election campaign, I argued strongly that our forces needed to be suitable for the security threats of the 21st century - not for running an empire long gone! Needless to say both Tory and Labour politicians were keen to attack such a position - and yet now we have elements of the review clearly supporting our analysis. The decision to renew Trident has been put off for at least five years - testimony to the folly of such potential spending.

And as for the aircraft carriers ... it seems we will get two aircraft carriers - one which will carry no aircraft and another which could be sold within three years! And no - that isn't a line from a stand up comedian - that is the UK Government's plans for its 'carriers'!

There a major security challenges facing Europe over the next decades yet this half baked plan of the UK Government will waste more money and take us nowhere close to a well resourced force to deal with the security challenges ahead.