Let's get the ball rolling

Tue, 03 Apr 2007 13:06:13 +0100

I am sending this letter to my MP, Theresa May:

Dear Theresa May,

As I have written here:

http://matt.blogs.it/entries/00002526.html

I was shocked to learn that, according to the governments own figures (and depending upon how you read them), the UK spent between 32 and 39 billion pounds on defence in 2006.

This to defend an Island in Western Europe that seems unlikely to be at risk of military invasion. Whose tanks do we see rolling over the green hills of England? Indeed one wonders if the threats this country really does face are not in many ways related to the uses to which these many billions of pounds our tax monies have been put over the years.

I would be interested in your reaction to these figures. Do you not believe, as I do, that our spending on defence is grossly excessive given our situation?

If you do not agree I would appreciate an explanation of why an island in peaceful Europe, having the 22nd largest population in the world, needs the worlds second largest defence budget.

On the other hand, if you do agree, I would appreciate it if you could outline how conservative policy will seek to readjust this such that the tax burden can be reduced and remaining taxation addressed to items of greater concern to the population at large (e.g. health, education, poor relief).

I believe a good start would be an 8 billion pound cut over the next parliament. 4 billion of which to be returned to the tax payer, and 4 billion put towards actually meeting the governments target of lifting all children out of poverty. This would doubtless come as a shock to the defence industry but unless we accept that it is not the taxpayers duty to keep arms manufacturers in business we will be yoked to them forever. A re-alignment is long past due.

Wouldn't lifting all children out of poverty, a serious tax-cut, and a re-alignment of defence priorities around real threats make an excellent pledge?

I look forward to your respond with eager interest.

Yours respectfully.

Matthew Mower

I have no idea what her response will be. When I met Theresa May I found her to be thoughtful and not afraid of expressing an opinion, we'll see if this resonates.

I believe it is long past time that the debate about defence spending and taxation are brought out into the cold light of day.

Curiouser and Curiouser! on defence

Let's get the ball rolling