Explore Candidates → United Kingdom → Labour Party on Foreign and Defence Policy
Labour Party on Foreign and Defence Policy
Gordon Brown, PM: "There is no strategy that is without danger and risk. But that is the responsibility of leadership, of government, and of our armed forces: to do what is necessary, however difficult, to keep the British people safe. We cannot, must not and will not walk away."
"Gordon Brown has put the United States on notice that he wants to cut UK troop numbers from more than 9,000 to fewer than 5,000 in "three to five years, maximum", according to senior sources at the Ministry of Defence. Ministers stress that they will not abandon Afghanistan, but they want to scale back the UK presence to levels similar to those committed by other Nato member states."
"In a keynote speech on Friday, the Prime Minister confirmed that he was considering a short-term increase in British troops in Afghanistan, as a prelude to a British exit."
David Miliband, Foreign Secretary: "We reject unilateral nuclear disarmament for ourselves precisely because the world cannot end up in a situation where responsible powers get rid of their weapons, but the danger of nuclear proliferation by other powers remains."
"Gordon Brown told the General Assembly the UK was proposing a 'grand global bargain' as a way to halt the spread of nuclear weapons and reduce stockpiles. The suggested cuts come as the government searches for ways to reduce the massive deficit in public finances. However Number 10 said keeping the UK's nuclear missiles was "non-negotiable". At the UN, Mr Brown said nations needed to come together to achieve the long-term ambition of a nuclear-free world."
"Labour and the Conservatives back Trident renewal, estimated to cost £20bn, but many Labour MPs oppose it…. Gordon Brown says Trident is necessary to protect the UK in a volatile world where nuclear proliferation is a major threat to international stability."
"The Liberal Democrats have already come out against renewing Trident. Labour and the Tories support it but admit it will have to be reviewed because of soaring public debt."
"The Prime Minister will use the launch of a Green Paper on the future of the Armed Forces to promise a new generation of warships and fast jets over the coming decade. He will also guarantee an extra £1.5 billion for the war in Afghanistan, and promise to safeguard defence spending from any cuts next year. Mr Brown aims to display Labour commitment to the military while also forcing the Conservatives to say whether they would match such spending."
"It is well known that Gordon Brown, as chancellor, was never willing to fund Tony Blair's wars. He cut the helicopter budget by £1.4bn in 2004, when we were at war in both Iraq and Afghanistan…"
"The government has come under fire from industry, unions and defence analysts over a series of cuts and changes announced to the defence budget."
"Gordon Brown has said he hopes to 'renew the special friendship' with America as he flies to Washington to meet US President Barack Obama."
Gordon Brown, PM: "What I want to talk about is the renewal of our relationship for new times. This is clearly a different world from 50 years ago and what we have to do is work more closely together."
"The partnership between the UK and the US is 'unbreakable' and that 'no power on earth can ever draw us apart', [Gordon Brown] also said."