David Blackburn

A cul-de-sac of Gordon Brown’s making

Earlier in the week, Liam Fox gaily described the Prime Minister as his ‘closest ally’ – a statement which aroused a little cynicism. But it seems that Fox was not exaggerating. According to the FT, Cameron now backs the navy’s grand blue-water strategy. Cameron’s about turn is striking: the last time the National Security Council convened he supported David Richards (he still does to an extent, pledging that army troop numbers will not be cut). The strategic arguments have not changed, which suggests that the politics has.

Fox’s letter was one thing, the Clyde shipyards another. Cancelling the carriers would obviously have adverse consequences for Glasgow’s economy and the disparate private companies that supply shipbuilders and heavy industry. The government can ill-afford to hamper growth in manufacturing, especially as Cameron spent the conference championing business beyond the City.

Some of the carriers’ opponents argue that Britain should build these warships and then sell them, but there isn’t a buyer. No country, not India, not Brazil and certainly not Britain, needs a seaborne strike aircraft capability designed to refight the Battle of Midway. The carriers’ supporters nod and wink in the direction of China and Russia but we would never fight Russia and China – that’s what Trident’s for.

All this comes at the expense of a more practical capability. The navy will have to cut its destroyer and frigate fleet to incorporate the two monsters – which, incidentally, will be fitted with obsolete Harriers because we can’t afford the joint strike fighter aircraft (at £100m a pop). Of course, Harriers could use the current squadron of geriatric carriers, so we are in the ultimate cul-de-sac. After 13 years of underfunding, one man, the man who commissioned the super-carriers as it happens, is squarely to blame.

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