Mims Davies has welcomed the publication of today’s Strategic Defence and Security Review – a comprehensive plan to back the Armed Forces, counter-terrorism police and intelligence agencies with the resources they need.
National security depends on economic security and this is vital at a time when the threats to the UK are growing, Mims said, and the £178 billion to be spent on defence over the next decade will help achieve this.
“These investments are an act of clear-eyed self-interest to ensure our prosperity and security,” she explained. “Using our renewed economic strength, we will equip our armed forces to defeat the terrorist threat and help keep us safe for generations to come.
Key areas of the review include:
- Creating two new strike brigades with forces of up to 5,000 personnel each who will be fully equipped to deploy rapidly and sustain themselves in the field.
- Increasing the size of the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force by a total of 700 personnel.
- Renewing the continuous-at-sea nuclear deterrent – our ultimate insurance policy.
- Investing in nine maritime patrol aircraft to protect our nuclear deterrent, hunt down hostile submarines and enhance our maritime search and rescue.
- Extending the life of our multirole Typhoon for 10 extra years through to 2040, meaning we will be able to create two additional squadrons.
- Accelerating the F-35 programme, by buying 42 jets by 2023.
- Investing £1.9 billion over five years in our cybersecurity.
“The first duty of any government is to keep the nation safe – that is why this investment is fantastic news for the people of Eastleigh, Mims added.
“I am proud that we are the only major country in the world which is simultaneously going to meet the NATO target of spending 2 per cent of our GDP on defence and the UN target of spending 0.7 per cent of our GNI on development, while also increasing investment in our security and intelligence agencies and in counter-terrorism.
“Today’s announcements underline how committed we are to the long-term, future security of Britain.”