Cameron's carrier pledge
Conservative Party leader David Cameron has confirmed he plans to build two aircraft carriers vital to jobs in our area – but can't keep them out of a full military spending review.
Controversy has raged in this area over Tory plans for the military, and particularly whether it will continue with Labour's construction of two Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers at a cost of 5bn.
And as his party moves into three of the most important days in its modern history, Mr Cameron's desire to confirm they will be built is still battling with his commitment to have the country's economy 'back on track' within a year of his election.
Speaking exclusively to The News, he said: 'There's a really good case to be made for having these aircraft carriers – and it is one we support.
'We want a strong navy.
'But like Labour, we want a strategic defence review and this would include the carriers. We need service chiefs, senior military commanders, officials, and all the relevant ministers to sit down and properly assess the threats this country faces, and then work out what resources this country needs to keep it safe in the decades ahead.
'This is what Labour have said too.
'Bob Ainsworth confirmed in Parliament on 8 March that "everything other than Trident is included in the Strategic Defence Review."
'Unlike Labour, I don't believe in putting all our eggs in one basket.
'We believe we should have strong naval bases across the country and would protect Portsmouth as one of those.
'We won't move bases to Scotland.'
His words offer a little more hope than those of his party's defence secretary, Dr Liam Fox, who suggested to The News the carriers could be too expensive to be equipped, or that even if they were built, both ships may not be based at Portsmouth.
Mr Cameron also warned that military staffing levels will be under review, partially because the MoD faces a budget shortfall of 6bn.
But he promised to support the military.
He said: 'Thanks to Labour, whoever wins the election is going to inherit the most red-inked books in history so there are going to have to be very difficult decisions in the years ahead.
'The future shape of the Armed Forces will be determined by our defence review, so it would be wrong of me to start making any commitments before it's made its recommendations.
'But I have huge admiration for people working in the defence industry.
'Their hard work keeps us safe.
'Their genius makes a massive contribution to our economy.
'So we will do all we can to make sure it remains one of the best in the world.'
Rear-Admiral Ralph Curr, of the UK National Defence Association, is confident a defence review could decide in favour of both carriers, but warns that savings will have to be made across the defence budget.
He said: 'All three parties are making promises.
'It's unlikely they'll be able to deliver everything.
'Labour and the Conservatives are in favour of replacing Trident, something we agree with them on, but there are large costs involved there and we must remember money has to be saved.
'I think even bearing in mind the importance of defence to the nation there'll be some cuts.
'But after designing and building the first carrier, the costs of a second drop by almost half.
'And only one would be at sea at any time, so staffing costs are also lower.
'We'd prefer both carriers were kept for our forces' use, and a review carries the possibility the plans will change, but we hope this means they'll be built.'
During his wide-ranging interview with The News, Mr Cameron was also unable to guarantee increased numbers of front-line police.
But he said: 'The appalling state of public finances means we can't promise to protect all of the Home Office Budget.
'But we will cut bureaucracy that keeps officers behind their desks filling in forms and instead get them out on the streets.
'Police officers spend more time doing paperwork than on patrol.
'We'll make them crime-fighters, not form-fillers.'
He offered a similar promise of 'more effective' use of money in the Building Schools for the Future programme – the scheme which will see some of our local schools completely or partially rebuilt.
He said: 'We want to build new schools and continue the BSF programme.
'But local authorities have spent almost 200m of BSF money on consultants – which just goes to show how badly we need to start getting real value for money from our public services.'
But Brian McClarin, headteacher of King Richard School, Paulsgrove, which would be the first Portsmouth school to be rebuilt under BSF, questioned whether money was being wasted.
He said: 'In Portsmouth there are consultants used.
'But they are necessary. Other headteachers and I don't have the experience of working with architects that consultants do.
'It's hard for us to ensure we can translate our ideas to architects who are driven by slightly different priorities.
'We don't just want a new school, we want a new way of teaching young people in Paulsgrove and Wymering, and consultants help us in that.
'So we must be very careful before saying how we make cuts.'
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Wednesday 23 May 2012
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