Unfortunately, the RealPolitik of Defence is that it is only partly there for the purpose of defending the Realm.
Other key factors are:
A driver for capital & revenue spend - which drives employment in some areas - which brings back tax - and which secures votes.
A measure to counter unemployment in some key deprived areas. Some of our most famous and successful infantry regiments (or Battalions as we now call them in the new model army) recruit from some Poor places.
It is also a pride thing (Good Pride - History, heritage and tradition // Bad Pride or Hubris - Vanity projects or excursions to 'Statesman' like a politician.
LRMPA is never going to scream 'statesmanlike' when compared to pointy planes, bomber subs, SF and loads of Tommy Atkins who can be photographed at the stage-managed photo calls in sandy places.
I beleive that a number of posters are trying to assign Honour, Wisdom and Open-Mindedness to a bunch of politicians who are only interested on short-termist projects to keep them in power and on the gravy train.
I am waiting to see how the Home Secretary is going to argue that slashing the police budgets is going to keep us all safer from terrorism here at home - because let's face it; Sec Def does not seem to be standing up for Her Majesty's Armed Forces.
PS - Making Defence pay for the Bomber SSBNs and their cargoes of point-to-point delivered Sunshine has also raped the budgets somewhat
Last edited by Finnpog; 10th Jan 2015 at 18:41.
Reason: Adding the Post Script