Today’s defence news includes coverage that construction work will start on the UK’s new nuclear submarines, calls for the military to do more in stopping migrants crossing the channel, drug policies within the services and claims that an officer was 'gagged' from talking to lawyers regarding the murders of six Red Caps in Iraq in 2006.
Nuclear Submarine Announcement
A number of publications, including the Sunday Telegraph, Financial Times, The Sun on Sunday, The Independent, and the Sunday Times, report on Defence Secretary Michael Fallon's announcement that the MOD is to release a further £1.3bn to BAE Systems. This latest investment marks the start of construction of the UK’s new nuclear submarines.
Defence Secretary Michael said:
Britain’s ballistic missile submarines are the ultimate guarantee of our nation’s safety – we use them every day to deter the most extreme threats. We cannot know what new dangers we might face in the 2030s, 2040s and 2050s so we are acting now to replace them.
Along with increasing the defence budget to buy new ships, planes and armoured vehicles, this shows that this Government will never gamble with our national security.
Channel Migrants
The Sunday Express reports that a senior retired military official has called upon British forces to do more in stopping migrants crossing the channel.
A Government Spokesperson said:
Highly skilled Border Force officers are specially trained to protect the UK from a range of threats and have specific law enforcement powers unique to them, including the ability to search vessels and arrest those suspected of breaking the law.
A number of operational partners, including both Border Force and the Royal Navy, will continue to work together extremely closely to keep the UK’s maritime border secure.
Ministry of Defence policy on Drugs
The Sun reports that 570 service personnel have tested positive for drugs after compulsory drug testing since the start of the year.
An MOD spokesperson said:
We conduct compulsory drug tests because substance misuse is incompatible with service life. Only around 0.3% of the Armed Forces fail them and anyone who falls short of our high standards can expect to be discharged.
Officer 'gagged' from talking to lawyers
The Star of Sunday report that an officer was refused permission to allow him to provide evidence to lawyers representing the families of six military policemen who were killed in Iraq in 2006.
An Ministry of Defence Spokesperson said:
We have procedures in place to help personnel disclose information about their service in a way that does not endanger themselves, or those who continue to serve. The MOD has gone to great lengths to investigate the circumstances of these murders, to bring the insurgents responsible to justice, to learn lessons and to minimise the risk of recurrence.
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