Lord Stirrup
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Defence: Budget
Lord Stirrup Excerpts(9 years, 11 months ago)
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Lord Newby
My Lords, that is an interesting idea. However, the key thing is the content of the review, rather than the procedure.
Lord Stirrup (CB)
My Lords, the Minister referred to the fact this country is still the second largest contributor to NATO. Sadly, that is not a terribly high bar to clear these days. At the recent NATO summit in Wales, the Prime Minister stressed the importance of alliance members contributing at least 2% of their GDP to defence. While no one can commit the next Government, does the Minister not think that, were the current Prime Minister to form the next Government, it would be utterly bizarre if he and his party were not to adhere to this principle which he so strongly espoused so recently?
Lord Newby
My Lords, I really cannot comment about what the leader of the Conservative Party might think after the next election.