Vernon Coaker MP, Labour’s Shadow Defence Secretary, responding to the Defence Committee’s Seventh Report of Session 2013-14: Towards the next Defence and Security Review: Part One, said:

“This report from the Defence Select Committee supports Labour’s view that the Government made a mistake in not adopting a strategic approach to the 2010 Defence and Security Review.

“Instead of looking at what was necessary to ensure the continuing safety and security of Britain and our place in the world, the review was driven solely by financial considerations. That is not the right way to plan for the future defence capability of the United Kingdom. It is a short-sighted, false economy that ends up costing more in the long-run.

“No-one is disputing the financial constraints within which the UK military must operate. But the Government can’t cut its cloth before taking the measurements.

“Labour will ensure that the next defence review will be strategy-led and financially responsible.”