Why Labour?

Labour believes that Britain should act as a force for good in the world as well as ensuring the safety and security of its own citizens. As a permanent member of the UN Security Council, we have a global responsibility to help reduce international conflict, combat international terrorism and weapons proliferation, and contribute to peacekeeping and peacemaking operations. To face these new threats, we must maintain strong, balanced, flexible and deployable armed forces.

In an increasingly interdependent and uncertain world, Labour will continue to work through our strong partnerships and alliances to successfully meet the challenges of the 21st century.  NATO remains the cornerstone of Britain’s defence and security policy, and we are leading efforts to enhance Europe’s military capabilities for humanitarian and crisis management operations where NATO as a whole is not engaged. Tackling threats to our security from terrorism and weapons of mass destruction are vital parts of a strategy to protect British citizens and to help build a fairer, more prosperous world for all.

Key achievements

• With Labour, Britain’s Armed Forces are a force for good in the world. Alongside intensive diplomatic and humanitarian work, our armed forces have intervened to defend human rights and the rule of law in Bosnia, Kosovo, East Timor, Sierra Leone and Afghanistan
• Labour has ensured our Armed Forces have the support they need: the result of our consistent, increased funding for defence has meant on average, a billion pounds more for defence every year, for the last eleven years
• We have banned exporting of equipment to those countries that are known to use them for internal repression and we were one of the first countries to ratify the Ottawa Convention banning anti-personnel landmines. At Dublin in 2008 we were at the forefront of efforts to agree a new international convention banning all cluster munitions. This major achievement builds on the Labour Government’s leadership on landmines and the Arms Trade Treaty.
• We were the first government to appoint a Minister for Veterans’ Affairs and today invest more in supporting veterans. We have extended the veteran’s badge to include all those who have served in our armed forces
• Recognising the considerable risks our armed forces face, earlier this year we agreed one of the highest pay rises in the public sector for all servicemen and women.  This follows on from last years nine per cent pay rise for the lowest paid private soldiers. For those on operation abroad we have introduced a tax-free monthly bonus of almost £400 and have extended council tax relief

Winning the fight for Britain's future:

• Our Armed Forces are truly inspiring and it is only right that we recognise their commitment and sacrifice. This year we published a cross government Command Paper, the first of its kind, outlining how we will improve the welfare and support we provide to our service men and women, their families and our veterans.
• We are also doubling the lump sum compensation awards for the most severely injured, a measure which will make a huge and practical difference in the lives of many of our servicemen and women and their families.
• We continue to ensure that our forces receive state of the art medical care when they are injured on operations and when they recover back in the UK
• We are committed to supporting our Armed Forces and their families which is why we will introduce free further or higher education up to first degree level for service leavers after six years of service.; invest £8 billion over the next decade in accommodation for Service personnel and introduce measures to ensure that our Armed Forces and their families retain their places on NHS waiting lists when they move and to end disadvantage in accessing school places for service children.
• The 2007 Comprehensive Spending Review means that we will continue to increase defence spending by £7.7 billion in real terms by 2011
• In order to help end conflicts around the world we will continue to lead the campaign for an International Arms Trade Treaty and will offer £600 million over the next three years for conflict prevention, conflict resolution and stabilisation work in areas ranging from Afghanistan to Darfur
• We will work for international stability by working with our allies to encourage and promote economic and political change in the Middle East
• We will proceed with the construction of two new aircraft carriers, which should sustain and create some 10,000 jobs across the UK