U Turn on Defence Looming?

The reluctance to even mention defence in the campaign literature we are sending out at the moment tells us either; "the long term economic plan" does not have room for the defence of the realm as a priority or would have us believe that the lack of a threat to our security permits us to lower our guard. Both propositions are dangerously mistaken. At a time of worrying geo-political instability, the prospect of further cuts to the armed forces budget and our contribution to NATO collective security is reckless and a dereliction of the duty of Government.

David Cameron believes, according to his polling, that there are no votes in defence. But wait, the steady drip of newspaper and television articles and intervention by our American allies appears to be softening us up for a change of heart.  Maybe there are some votes in defence after all?  Quick, do something eye-catching!  Unfortunately a few vote-grabbing headlines today can easily be undone by SDSR 2015 tomorrow.