Other countries of a similar size and stature manage without nonsense like two giant vastly expensive aircraft carriers. Britain could manage with a far smaller military if they could kick the habit of blindly following the US into whatever neo colonial conflict they've involved themselves in.
We already have a far smaller military than we have had in the last few centuries.
Aircraft carriers give an ability for force to be rapidly and effectively projected in any conflict zone world wide. We still have global interests all over the world, we also participate in NATO.
Okay, so when was the last time the British Isles were under serious threat of invasion Not in my or, I venture, your lifetime.
The British Isles themselves were under severe threat and the Channel Islands were invaded during WW2, which is still within living memory (albeit not mine). The Falklands were actually invaded in the early 80s, not very long before I was born.
It has recently been suggested on another thread that Brexit might cause a war with Spain shortly. We’d better get those shiny new F-35s out of their bubble wrap quick smart!
An effective military isn’t just about having a “home guard” to defend our shores, it’s about being able to project force abroad especially when the world is an increasingly fractious, divided and dangerous place.
If it is tinhat stuff to suggest that the Iraq and Afghan wars were motivated by something other that altruism or global justice then you can pass me the bacofoil.
What do you think they were motivated by?
In hindsight they were a bad idea but I don’t think they were “quasi colonial”, or only about oil, which I’m well aware are the default left wing arguments against any form of western military intervention abroad.
I’m also aware that the people making those arguments follow a predictable line that everything bad in the world is the fault of the West, which they claim to despise whilst luxuriating in its freedoms, but are happy to turn a blind eye to appalling conflicts and genocides that don’t suit that narrative. “Stop The War” coalition being a case in point.
Was it George Orwell who said “we sleep safely in our beds because rough men stand ready at night to visit violence on those who would do us harm” (or very similar words)?
Despite what Jezza seems to think, sitting around a campfire and singing kumbaya isn’t the solution to the world’s problems, and won’t keep us safe when we and our interests come under existential threat.