The (very) Late, Great, UK Defence Review!
 

Well, here we are, how long since this "review" started? Today Philip Hammond delivered the UK Autumn Budget. An interesting statement but, for UK Mil an extra £1Bn to go with a similar amount earlier in the year. Obfuscation IMO, with mention of Dreadnought costs blah. Not to be deceived, I venture that, there are real heavyweight battles being fought. Apparently, the battle will have been lost by next Summer? I wonder if some serious changes to come were just too painful a Nettle to grasp as we approach Armistice 100? :(
Please add your insights.

OAP

So that extra billion will be for, oh I dunno, down payment for the rework programme for the UKs F35 fleet? No that can't be right--they dont know how much they are in the first place BOOM BOOM.

>>> rofl <<<

Did you notice all the noding donkeys when said something? Thought TM's head would fall off. When he mentioned Defence Gavin didn't even blink.

And why did Mr Squeaker leave?

i found that curious too. One the the major House sittings, and he absents himself. Very odd.

I am betting defence won't see a penny of it. Will either be taken from elsewhere or cut on a bad news day via page 5 of the Sun.

It's a hangover from when the committee stage of any money bill went to the "Ways and Means select committee". The 1st Deputy Speaker is also the Chair of the Ways and Means committee (even though it no longer exists) and so he/she would always chair the parliamentary reading or any money or procedural debate - this was because there was always a suspicion that the Speaker was an agent of the Sovereign and would use this power to unduly influence the allegedly democratic mandate of the Members.

NALOPKT(&EFGAS),

PDR

Thanks PDR1 ... how wonderfully archaic!

As someone important once said, every day is a learning day on Pprune.

Thank you PDR.

Thanks for that.