June 4, 2001

Labour's Record on Defence
Appalling

THAT WAS THEN

In the 1980s defence was a big issue. You see, in their heart of hearts the bulk of the Labour Party did not believe that the Cold War was a reality. Of course this was bunkum (and I should get a few e-mails for this sentence) and the ideologically charged, unstable and armed to the teeth Soviet Union would, if unchecked, have acted pretty much like the West is today. In consequence they advocated the removal of American bases from British territory and unilateral nuclear disarmament. This helped alienate the middle class teachers and social workers who ran the Labour Party from a large part of their working class constituency. It was also responsible, along with Europe and nationalisation, for the peeling away of left wing votes to the more moderate Alliance (now Liberal Democrats) and so splitting the left wing vote and allowing in a minority-supported right wing government. In short defence was one of Labour's most vulnerable areas.

THIS IS NOW

Oh what a change the ending of the cold war makes. Defence is now a low level issue. Much of the controversy that does get aired are about Britain's overseas commitments, sometimes whether we should keep them but mostly about whether or not they are adequately maintained. Meanwhile defence, as opposed to offence, is ignored. We're safe, we're told – who could possibly invade us?

LACK OF ENEMIES

Of course, we do have a military power growing in Europe. The European Army, built around a French core, is rapidly growing and although it may be a joke now – it won't be forever with German money and East European manpower. The European Union, which this army is pledged to serve, does not recognise that state's have a right to secede from the "permanent" union. It may be no enemy now, but for a potential enemy it fulfill all the criteria.

MINISTRY OF OFFENCE

The British armed forces are no longer geared up for defence. They may be the finest in the world (although I'm sure that this is believed more fervently in Britain than outside it) but this is moot. The armed forces are simply incapable of defending the British isles.

COASTAL STUNTS

The defence of British coastal waters was always the first priority of the armed forces. Until now. For a start Britain has retired its diesel submarines, before they even went into service. An all nuclear submarine force may be just swell for launching missiles or going down deep in the Atlantic, but for active missions in coastal waters you need diesel. Now we (along with the US) have a nuclear only force. Similarly the British navy always relied on the extensive British fishing fleet for activities such as mine clearing and surveillance. Except that this fishing fleet is no longer so extensive now that the European Common Fisheries policy has chased British fishermen out of British coastal waters. Of course we have more aircraft carriers now, but this is not really an issue in British defence.

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Emmanuel Goldstein is the pseudonym of a political drifter on the fringes of English classical liberal and Euro-sceptic activity. He is a former member of the Labour Party, who knows Blair and some of his closest buddies better than they realise, yet. He has a challenging job in the real world, working for a profit-making private company and not sponging off the taxpayer in politics, journalism or the civil service. "Airstrip One," appears Mondays at Antiwar.com.