On 16 July, Sir Keir Starmer launched ‘The Strategic Defence Review’, which is tasked to consider all aspects of Defence. However, in practice, the scope for challenging the status quo is extremely limited. The ‘Parameters’ of the review bake in our current approach rather than allowing for a genuine discussion. The ‘Parameters’ include:

• total commitment to the independent UK nuclear deterrent
• enhancing the UK’s contribution to [NATO] and sustaining a “NATO first” defence policy
• maintain the UK’s defence ties to the Indo Pacific region, the Gulf and the Middle East
• delivery of the AUKUS partnership with the US and Australia
• the path to spending 2.5 percent of GDP on defence

A Say On Defence is actively seek to contribute to the Strategic Defence Review, encouraging a focus on the threats to UK citizens and the defence of the UK, rather than an assumption in favour of military operations abroad.