yUcK 4 iron man

The British government has announced a twenty percent increase in military spending over the next three years. This amounts to an extra £7.7 billion (€11.5 billion) in funding, which will take the national defence budget up from £33 billion (€49 billion) in 2007 to £36.9 billion (€55 billion) in
2011. Not only will this additional funding sustain Britain's position as the world's second biggest military spender, but it will also pay for two massive new aircraft carriers. Costing nearly £2 billion (€2.98 billion) apiece, these vessels will be by far the largest and most powerful ever operated by the United Kingdom—or any other part of the European Union.

£37 Billion is more than some small nations spend on everything. Scotland in 2011 will have £30 billion to spend on everything.

New Labour, coming to power in 1997, in its Strategic Defence Review lead bt George Robertson, the then defence secretary, flatly refused to change Tory military policy. They have not changed it since.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• SNP
• Scotland
• independence
• aye
• freedom
• UK
• Britain
• military
• labour
• tory

[bcnsco]

aye if you think spending 37billion on things designed to kill people is better than spending it on actualy improving the lives of our citizens. Dont worry boys and girls once Scotland is independent there will be an end to that sort of thing.

[BwokenPwomitheth]

So true. It's obvious that the Brit establishment believes in "battleships, not apprenticeships". I'm sure our remaining shipbuilders on the Clyde would as happily build hospital ships as they would frigates.

[bcnsco]

If defence spending equalled a lack of social problems then the USA would have next to none of these problems. We all know that isnt the case.

Theres one part of Ireland even worse off - at it isnt the South.

[Wilsey1000]

One of the worst poverty gaps is evident in Southern Ireland with extremely low public spending including Defence. Ireland doesn't even have a jet aircraft in it's airforce.

In fact poverty in Ireland is amongst the worst in Europe, whilst drugs and social problems plague the country, with places such as Limerick battle grounds for drug gangs.

[Wilsey1000]

The UK Spends less than 2% of GDP on Defence, UK National GDP being £2 Trillion of which over 85% is generated by England.

Lots of other countries spend a far higher levels per capita.

[Yorkshire87]

If you spent all that money on improving the lives of out citizens it would go along way, but then if another hitler came along we'd be fucked. Now if all migrants were made to leave the U.K. there would be many a spare billion to spend on our citizens plus alot less strain on fire/police/hospital services etc so they would improve. Would rather do that than cut military spending......just my 2 penneth

[Yorkshire87]

money well spent.

[collaciotach]

Good work

tha an latha a 'tighinn

Saor Alba

[bcnsco]

37billion - that is a crazy amount of money and a stat that I never knew before just now.

good work.