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Original poster

Would you pay more tax to boost defence spending

494 replies

trainermush · 20/02/2025 17:42

Obviously we are now in a more precarious position & defence spending has been underfunded for some time. RR had just said we need to spend more money & she will but without breaking her fiscal rules,

"So we will stick to our fiscal rules. But recognising the priority of defence spending in the world that we live in today means that we will have to make difficult choices so that we can spend that money that is needed to keep our country safe."

Mulling it over & even though I think I pay enough tax I would pay more each month towards this (cut back in other areas) as opposed to labour cutting back on something else. I guess thinking about my dc & other loved ones has changed my mind somewhat now things appear more bleak. What do others think?
Conscription of young people terrifies me even though my dc are too young.

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EasternStandard · 20/02/2025 20:51

@Thoughtsonstuff we voted all that out. Not much to be done but see what Starmer and co can do

Lettuceandbroccolisoup · 20/02/2025 20:50

trainermush · 20/02/2025 20:36

Yes, maybe dc should be taught more survival/self sufficiency skills in school?

Agreed,

Being a Boy Scout might come in useful....

Thoughtsonstuff · 20/02/2025 20:49

BIossomtoes · 20/02/2025 20:45

He’s completely ruthless. Don’t let the grey man demeanour fool you.

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I agree he's ruthless. But he's not a leader and people will need to follow him. And the suspicion would be that we aren't all in this together. He's proven that in the last 7 months.

As a slightly irrelevant aside, I'm surprised given how ruthless he is that he hasn't booted out Rachel Reeves or Bridget Philipson yet. He's not been that loyal in the past so I am interested to see how things progress in the next six months.

Talonz · 20/02/2025 20:47

MissConductUS · 20/02/2025 20:40

Putin has been trying to reconstruct the Soviet Union for the last twenty years or so, and has had some successes. There's no reason for him to stop now.

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Probably all the more reason to continue?

How many countries have fought a World War on different continents.

MissConductUS · 20/02/2025 20:46

But that’s what would happen anyway, given the language barrier it would be impossible to melt all the troops into regiments together?

NATO trains for this. The way it would work in practice is that each NATO member army would be given sectors to defend and specific offensive missions to carry out, with air and intelligence support from other nations.

BobbyBiscuits · 20/02/2025 20:45

@Farellyo Not all of it but a lot.

GettingTooOldForThis · 20/02/2025 20:45

Yes I would - I have followed the Ukraine threads for the last three years and cannot believe how we have walked into this situation.

Talonz · 20/02/2025 20:45

Wildflowers99 · 20/02/2025 20:39

But that’s what would happen anyway, given the language barrier it would be impossible to melt all the troops into regiments together?

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The concept of a single European army has at its core each nations army taking direct orders from a European central command. In addition, central procurement with the loss of control by each sovereign state over where it spends some of its money. This is something that some states, notably the UK and France, could not accept. I am in agreement with them on that. It is still possible to have a European army with contributions from nations, just as NATO is now.

BIossomtoes · 20/02/2025 20:45

Thoughtsonstuff · 20/02/2025 20:42

When there was a suggestion of National Service at the end of the last government many people hated the idea but I wonder if opinions would now be different. I don't want my children to be defenceless (although they have done CCF and they do know how to shoot a gun so perhaps they will at least be able to look after themselves). It sounds so horrible to even think that. But perhaps we now have to.

Labour won't be able to do this though. It will be anathema to Keir.Starmer, interntiotionalist Davos man. He's the wrong man at the wrong time.

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He’s completely ruthless. Don’t let the grey man demeanour fool you.

nitrofueled · 20/02/2025 20:44

I think it would be a sensible idea but honestly I can't afford many more tax rises

Thoughtsonstuff · 20/02/2025 20:42

trainermush · 20/02/2025 20:36

Yes, maybe dc should be taught more survival/self sufficiency skills in school?

When there was a suggestion of National Service at the end of the last government many people hated the idea but I wonder if opinions would now be different. I don't want my children to be defenceless (although they have done CCF and they do know how to shoot a gun so perhaps they will at least be able to look after themselves). It sounds so horrible to even think that. But perhaps we now have to.

Labour won't be able to do this though. It will be anathema to Keir.Starmer, interntiotionalist Davos man. He's the wrong man at the wrong time.

MissConductUS · 20/02/2025 20:40

trainermush · 20/02/2025 20:27

@MissConductUS so it's the long game.

Putin has been trying to reconstruct the Soviet Union for the last twenty years or so, and has had some successes. There's no reason for him to stop now.

Wildflowers99 · 20/02/2025 20:39

Talonz · 20/02/2025 20:36

I disagree with having a European Army (this is nothing to do with the EU). The danger with having a single army is an increased risk for design flaws to be pervasive. Those countries that do best on aircraft design should produce the planes we need in all air forces. Those that are the best at training special forces train all elite regiments across nations. That is likely to be the strongest model operationally. By having separate armies that contribute in phases and degrees to any conflict will leave an aggressor with uncertainty around how big a tiger they will be prodding if they attack any European country.

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But that’s what would happen anyway, given the language barrier it would be impossible to melt all the troops into regiments together?

Original poster
trainermush · 20/02/2025 20:39

@BIossomtoes I would like to be wrong

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Original poster
trainermush · 20/02/2025 20:39

@Talonz good strategy

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BIossomtoes · 20/02/2025 20:36

trainermush · 20/02/2025 20:34

And this. I know it’s ‘undemocratic’ but I just want Keir Starmer to make an executive decision to apply to rejoin the EU. Leaving it was a catastrophic mistake and we shouldn’t stick by it just for the sake of pride.

I agree but think there would be a revolt.

I’m not so sure. I think it would be a huge relief to a lot of us. Particularly now all the Tory brexiteers have left parliament.

Talonz · 20/02/2025 20:36

Wildflowers99 · 20/02/2025 20:30

And this. I know it’s ‘undemocratic’ but I just want Keir Starmer to make an executive decision to apply to rejoin the EU. Leaving it was a catastrophic mistake and we shouldn’t stick by it just for the sake of pride.

Show quote history

I disagree with having a European Army (this is nothing to do with the EU). The danger with having a single army is an increased risk for design flaws to be pervasive. Those countries that do best on aircraft design should produce the planes we need in all air forces. Those that are the best at training special forces train all elite regiments across nations. That is likely to be the strongest model operationally. By having separate armies that contribute in phases and degrees to any conflict will leave an aggressor with uncertainty around how big a tiger they will be prodding if they attack any European country.

Original poster
trainermush · 20/02/2025 20:36

Yes, maybe dc should be taught more survival/self sufficiency skills in school?

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Hillsmakeyoustrong · 20/02/2025 20:35

And strong agree with @Thoughtsonstuff re self sufficiency.

Original poster
trainermush · 20/02/2025 20:34

@Farellyo agreed

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Original poster
trainermush · 20/02/2025 20:34

And this. I know it’s ‘undemocratic’ but I just want Keir Starmer to make an executive decision to apply to rejoin the EU. Leaving it was a catastrophic mistake and we shouldn’t stick by it just for the sake of pride.

I agree but think there would be a revolt.

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EasternStandard · 20/02/2025 20:33

Thoughtsonstuff · 20/02/2025 20:33

Farmers need to be supported too so that we are more self sufficient. No destroying the land by covering it with solar farms. No IHT. Decent financial support for a vital industry..I dont really want to imagine over 70 million of us on an island with food supplies cut off thanks.

Fair point

Hillsmakeyoustrong · 20/02/2025 20:33

Yes, we absolutely need to spend more on defence.

Thoughtsonstuff · 20/02/2025 20:33

Farmers need to be supported too so that we are more self sufficient. No destroying the land by covering it with solar farms. No IHT. Decent financial support for a vital industry..I dont really want to imagine over 70 million of us on an island with food supplies cut off thanks.

Wildflowers99 · 20/02/2025 20:30

Scammersarescum · 20/02/2025 20:23

Absolutely happy to pay more towards defence.

We can't rely on the USA.

We need a strong European military force.

We also needs to rejoin the EU.

And this. I know it’s ‘undemocratic’ but I just want Keir Starmer to make an executive decision to apply to rejoin the EU. Leaving it was a catastrophic mistake and we shouldn’t stick by it just for the sake of pride.

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