By Kevan Jones MP, Shadow Armed Forces Minister.
With a humiliating u-turn on the aircraft carrier programme completed, Philip Hammond took the brave step of claiming the Defence budget is balanced over the next ten years. The triumphalism was predictably cheered on his own benches. His problem, however, is that not even they are convinced, since ministers’ mistakes have eroded confidence in their handling of defence.
Let’s remember the time-consuming and expensive aircraft carrier debacle. Ministers have reverted to purchasing the fast jets earmarked by the previous Labour Government after deriding our plans as a ‘mistake’. Hammond’s sole argument is that the facts have changed, but in truth he has changed his mind after examining the facts.
The Public Accounts Committee warned of the rising cost of the Government’s policy. The National Audit Office warned that the Government had an ‘immature understanding’ of costs. The Defence Select Committee warned against strategic shrinkage. Ministers failed to heed these multiple warnings. Continue reading














