06-11-2025, 07:06 PM
The Liberal Party notes the publication by the government of its Strategic Defence Review and its pledge to increase defence spending to 3% in the long term.
We believe that the review understates the time need to improve capabilities. However, our greatest concern remains the failure to attract sufficient numbers of young people to careers in the Armed Forces. We are alarmed at the failure of successive governments to retain high quality personnel. Morale is not as it should be, and we fear that our readiness to fight a war is questionable.
We would radically overhaul access to justice for Service personnel by abolishing the existing service complaints system (and the associated Service Complaints Ombudsman for the Armed Forces). We would also establish a military employment tribunal under the supervision of the Judge Advocate General of the Armed Forces. Only then will we see an increase in standards and the morale required across our Armed Forces.
Further, we would introduce a new protected characteristic of military service to the Equality Act 2010, to remove discrimination against our serving personnel and veterans.
We believe that the review understates the time need to improve capabilities. However, our greatest concern remains the failure to attract sufficient numbers of young people to careers in the Armed Forces. We are alarmed at the failure of successive governments to retain high quality personnel. Morale is not as it should be, and we fear that our readiness to fight a war is questionable.
We would radically overhaul access to justice for Service personnel by abolishing the existing service complaints system (and the associated Service Complaints Ombudsman for the Armed Forces). We would also establish a military employment tribunal under the supervision of the Judge Advocate General of the Armed Forces. Only then will we see an increase in standards and the morale required across our Armed Forces.
Further, we would introduce a new protected characteristic of military service to the Equality Act 2010, to remove discrimination against our serving personnel and veterans.