Dodger_the_dog

[Dodger_the_dog @juleshad]

@shashj On that last point, you can see that it is not procurement that is the issue but Def decision making process. Too many vested interests, big and small 'p' politics before you even try to engage in procurement. HMT starving MoD of RDEL also huge constraint.

[Dodger_the_dog @juleshad]

@thinkdefence It is a compound effect. The more change at the top the greater the inability of Govt of any party to have a clear agenda. Overlay that with the MSM agenda, heavily skewed by overseas £ and the neverending desire for reshuffles, it is a miracle that anything is done.

[Dodger_the_dog @juleshad]

@TanDhesi @FTusa284 Defence needs RDEL. It is inevitable that HMT will as usual give any uplift for investment in CDEL as they retain controls on major CDEL commitments thereby gaining a political win without having to fully deliver.

[Dodger_the_dog @juleshad]

@UnimportantO @hmtreasury @DefenceHQ @fema @BBK_Bund @SecCivileFrance MOD needs to start pushing back on these tasks. They burn will, consume defence resources and reinforce the bad behaviours xHMG & local authorities by bailing out poor planning.

[Dodger_the_dog @juleshad]

@ThomasDunne80 @Tony_Diver @grok please translate into english

[Dodger_the_dog @juleshad]

@simonmontefiore The life cycle of a current autonomous system makes holding a stock a waste of scarce £. We need enough to train, integrate and make systems & people work. We need to build the capacity to deliver vol when needed. This is the challenge not filling warehouses with obsolete toys.

[Dodger_the_dog @juleshad]

@shashj Half of the problem on spending sits in #HMT & #CABINETOFFICE. They have too many controls, spend too long deciding and adding too many policy constraints that are unlinked to capability goals.

[Dodger_the_dog @juleshad]

@thinkdefence Agree but to get to that point politicians need to stop trying to be "Billy big bollocks". Until we accept that 'global britain' is hogwash then defence will be fixed

[Dodger_the_dog @juleshad]

@FTusa284 Aspires to be a leader.... the announcement is written in the future tense

[Dodger_the_dog @juleshad]

@larisamlbrown I bet the more money is in reality back loaded and CDEL skewed when in reality it is RDEL that is desperately needed.

[Deborah Haynes @haynesdeborah]

Extraordinarily - and this seems to demonstrate a complete disregard of the seriousness of defence at the heart of government - John Healey was only told what the offer was for additional defence funding on Monday afternoon.

I am told Number 10 then tried to rush and publish the Defence Investment Plan on Thursday.

Then a handbrake was applied by Mr Healey and his military chiefs. The (now ex) defence secretary made clear that racing to release the blueprint without a settlement that had been accepted by him and his team would be a risk for defence and for its soldiers, sailors and aviators.

You can only imagine the tone of the exchange that must have taken place - and I know that people were in the MOD until very late last night.

But John Healey firmly believes the settlement was inadequate and, if left unchallenged, would not enable the UK to keep the country safe or meet its international commitments - such as help defend Ukraine in the event of a ceasefire with Russia.

A key detail is that Mr Healey believes defence spending must be increased to 3% of GDP by 2030, up from 2.3% now. This would guarantee tens of billions of additional pounds for defence.

But - despite the stakes and the position of the defence secretary - the Prime Minister and Chancellor agreed just to inch it up to 2.68% of GDP within that time frame, after hitting a new target of 2.6% next year (which is already being inflated by lumping in the 0.1% that is spent on the intelligence agencies).

Utterly incredible.

What must our allies and our adversaries be thinking, let alone everyone in the UK armed forces and, frankly, everyone in our country?

We all rely on a secure UK to live, work, go to school, enjoy holidays, access healthcare, spend time with friends and families.

This is not a divine right. It happens because we have security - something that might not be apparent until or unless it is compromised...

[Dodger_the_dog @juleshad]

@shashj Remove the spend on the deterrent force and then see where we stand.

[OSINTtechnical @Osinttechnical]

Flying under the radar due to other news, but two of the UK's highest-ranking defence officials, the Armed Forces Minister and Defence Secretary, quit today over the chronic underfunding of the British military.

[Dodger_the_dog @juleshad]

@BO3673 That's going to make for an uncomfortable week! Was he not supposed to be going to DEFMINS about now to shape the Ankara Summit

[Dodger_the_dog @juleshad]

@GBNEWS What about taking back control and exercising sovereignty?

[Dodger_the_dog @juleshad]

@BO3673 Flog them for £18Bn, DIP sorted. 😉

[Dodger_the_dog @juleshad]

@Gabriel64869839 Politics talks about £ but defence is about capability (WETS). There is a massive lag between the two and threat does not wait for that gap to close.

[Dodger_the_dog @juleshad]

@ValueInvest2095 @DailyMail Ever passed the RM commando course?
Ever qualified as a hero pilot?
If no to either, go back to your grovel.

I expect to see you in the bottom field in the next month to justify your outrage.

[Dodger_the_dog @juleshad]

@scotpatriot7 @DailyMail Every passed USMC or Ranger selection?
Ever qualified as a hero pilot?
If no to either, go back to your grovel