James writes about importance of strong defence for freedom and sovereignty in his weekly column.
Hundreds of people joined the Remembrance Sunday service in Tower Gardens in Lynn to pay their respects to the Fallen, all who have served, and continue to do so in our Armed Forces. With our strong military links, RAF Marham close by, and a high proportion of veterans living locally it was not surprising to see such support and encouraging to see so many young cadets out in force.
Remembrance Sunday is a humbling day. It is a particular reminder of those who have made the ultimate sacrifice to protect our freedoms and way of life. Such concepts can seem remote to younger generations but the war in Ukraine is a stark reminder of the threats to our freedom on our doorstep. Hundreds of thousands of people have been killed or injured in Putin’s illegal war.
Such conflicts are a reminder of the importance of investing in our defence to deter aggression. Anyone who listened to the Bishop’s sermon in the Minster would agree on the goal of peace. However, to secure peace requires a willingness to defend the values of freedom and sovereignty that millions have fought for before. That is the essence of deterrence.
For three years I was an adviser to the then Defence Secretary, during a period when we secured commitments from NATO members to spend 2% of GDP on defence, began training Ukrainian Armed Forces which is helping defend their country today, and joined the Global Coalition against Daesh terrorists threatening the UK and our allies.
Regrettably, not all NATO members have yet met that commitment. President Trump in his first term called out countries that had not met that milestone (as did President Clinton’s Defense Secretary did many years before). He will certainly do so again when he begins his second term. It simply isn’t right – or frankly realistic - for any European nation to think they can outsource the cost of defence to the United States.
So it was dispiriting on Remembrance Sunday to hear the Chancellor’s deputy refuse to commit to a date by which this government would spend 2.5% of GDP on defence. He could not even guarantee that it would be in this Parliament.
In such a dangerous world, it is essential that the new government rapidly commits to the target the previous government had and the spending pathway they set out. We need that to replenish weapon stockpiles, invest in the capability of our Armed Forces, renew our nuclear deterrent, and ensure the men and women who serve and their families live in decent accommodation.
It is the welfare of the Armed Forces community that the Poppy Appeal focuses on. Last week I met many people backing the Poppy Appeal as I joined volunteers in Tesco Hardwick. Organised by local Royal British Legion representative Paul Giles, the annual appeal raises tens of thousands of pounds locally. However, more people are needed to help organise this fundraising and set up the stalls and collections.
If you would like to get involved in the Poppy Appeal next year then please get in touch through the RBL website and King’s Lynn page.
Lest we forget.
This column was first published in Your Local Paper on 13 November 2024.
