The U.K. National Defence Association (UKNDA) launched Nov. 8, kicking off with a call to increase spending on the armed forces as soon as possible.
UKNDA said it believes current spending levels are seriously undermining the United Kingdom’s ability to defend itself at home and around the world.
UKNDA President, Winston Churchill–grandson of the war time leader–said: “Twenty five years ago during the Falkland’s War we were devoting 5 percent of all we produce as a nation (GDP) to Defence. Today that figure stands at barely 2 percent, yet we are fighting simultaneously the two most intense wars the United Kingdom has been engaged in since Korea.”
Churchill said, “If parliament continues to call upon its Armed Forces to engage in wars on multiple fronts, then Defence spending must increase to a minimum of 3 percent. We are calling on all political parties to sign up to this commitment.”
The UKNDA has been formed under the patronage of three former Chiefs of Defence Staff: Gen. Lord Guthrie; Marshal of the Royal Air Force Lord Craig; Adm. Lord Boyce; and former Foreign Secretary, the Rt. Hon. Lord Owen.
“Underfunding of our armed forces is already having consequences, both for our overall defence capability and for our forces at the sharp end, which are too thinly spread and being required to go to war with equipment which is often outdated and not fit for purpose,” Lord Guthrie said.
Lord Craig said, “Defence has been, and still is, too low on the nation’s list of priorities and the Armed Forces are patently under-funded and over-stretched for the tasks they are being asked to do.”
Lord Boyce said, “Even though defence did see an increase in the most recent Comprehensive Spending Review that goes nowhere near addressing the fundamental issue of proper funding and over-commitment.”
The UKNDA set up as an independent and apolitical organization, has also won the backing of high-profile and influential supporters from civilian groups, Members of Parliament and academia.
The association launch comes just three days ahead of Nov. 11, the day the U.K. calls Remembrance and the United States, Veterans’ Day, set aside to honor and commemorate the war-dead in two World Wars and subsequent conflicts around the world.