Equipment for Heroes

MOD procurement is in the newspapers again today. And, again, it’s in the papers because of cost overruns and delays. Enough is enough. Labour Ministers have lacked the strength of character needed to drive through essential reforms. We must improve the way we equip the men and women who risk their lives defending our way of life. Recently an Army Colonel at the Defence Equipment & Support organisation – the organisation responsible for managing MOD procurement contracts – said “we’ve been planning the Future Command and Logistics Vehicle for 10 years [a lightly armoured 4x4 with specialist communication equipment]. Time’s moved on so far since the concept was first envisaged. By the time we get it in to service it will be the Past Command and Logistics Vehicle”.

I understand that there are challenges when it comes to buying military equipment. It’s not the same as going to the shops to buy a new pair of shoes. It goes without saying that we need appropriate assurance and scrutiny that taxpayers’ money – your money – is being well spent. But, as anyone in business will tell you: time is money. How much has a 10 year procurement cost us? How many lives has the delay cost us? It’s time for change. It's time to vote Labour out of the MOD procurement process.

Has the Labour Party Ran Out of Gas?

The recent Green Paper on Defence reminded me of the independent report published last October by Sir Bernard Gray about Defence acquisition. Sir Bernard Gray recognised that the UK isn't alone in feeling let down by the way military equipment is bought. Around the world many nations face similar shortcomings: equipment arriving late, being too expensive and not delivering what was requested or expected.

However, just because this is a pervasive problem, should we sit back and accept it? The Labour government have lacked ambition, vision, drive and leadership to act on Sir Bernard Gray's recommendations. Labour have returned similar reports year on year. Perhaps in a similar vain to Labour's education legacy: the bar required to pass exams was reduced, so exam league results looked better. This ignores the commitment required to faciliate the needs of the most able child, whilst also deserting the struggling student.

If the Conservative's win the next election, I don't believe we will accept 'lowest common denominator results'. The men and women fighting to protect us have never given up because something wasn't easy. We owe it them to get better at delivering the right equipment at the right time. We also owe it to the taxpayers to make sure your money is being is being spent in an effective and efficient way. We need to take action and vote at the Ballot box.