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Defence Committee

The latest news and comment on the Defence Select Committee

Articles
Parliament must build support for the Aukus submarine partnership
Defence
By Michelle Scrogham MP
Parliament must build support for the Aukus submarine partnership
The publication of the Defence Committee’s report on Aukus – the trilateral partnership between Australia, the UK and the US – confirmed what many in the defence community have long known: the strategic rationale remains unassailable.
Defence Committee Chair Tan Dhesi: 'We Are Not In A State Of Readiness'
Defence
Defence Committee Chair Tan Dhesi: "We Are Not In A State Of Readiness"
Defence Committee chair Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi tells Sienna Rodgers the UK is ‘not in a state of readiness’ for war and the Prime Minister must raise awareness about the threat level
MoD Pays £5m On Bullying, Harassment And Discrimination Claims In Two Years
Defence
MoD Pays £5m On Bullying, Harassment And Discrimination Claims In Two Years
The Ministry of Defence has spent almost £5m settling bullying, harassment and discrimination claims over the last two years.
Call of duty: The row over a 'citizens army'
Defence
By Sophie Church and Tali Fraser
Call of duty: The row over a 'citizens army'
Patrick Sanders infuriated Rishi Sunak by calling for a ‘citizen army’ in a speech dismissed as ‘alarmist’. But, as Sophie Church and Tali Fraser report, the debate on how to expand troop numbers has started and looks set to intensify after the election. Illustrations by Tracy Worrall
Tory MP Says UK Government Must Not 'Turn A Blind Eye' To Afghanistan
Defence
Tory MP Says UK Government Must Not "Turn A Blind Eye" To Afghanistan
Conservative MP Tobias Ellwood has repeated his call for the UK government to engage with the Taliban and reestablish the UK Embassy in Afghanistan, despite being “bruised” by the negative backlash to his comments about the Taliban last summer.
Conservative MP Robert Courts Elected As Chair Of Defence Committee
Defence
Conservative MP Robert Courts Elected As Chair Of Defence Committee
Conservative MP Robert Courts has been elected as Chair of the Defence Select Committee after Tobias Ellwood resigned over praising the Taliban.
Military Warned To Urgently Adapt To Climate Change Threats
Environment
By Zoe Crowther
Military Warned To Urgently Adapt To Climate Change Threats
The Ministry of Defence must adapt its strategic resilience to cope with changing demands from climate change, a new defence committee report has warned.
Defence Committee To Launch Review Into UK Military Operations In Afghanistan
Foreign affairs
Defence Committee To Launch Review Into UK Military Operations In Afghanistan
Exclusive: The Commons Defence Committee plans to launch its own inquiry into UK military operations in Afghanistan over the last 20 years, PoliticsHome has learned.
The armed forces have risen magnificently to Covid - Parliament mustn't waste this opportunity to repay them
Defence
By James Sunderland MP
The armed forces have risen magnificently to Covid - Parliament mustn't waste this opportunity to repay them
As the Armed Forces Bill weaves its way through Parliament, MPs must make the most of this vital opportunity to reflect on the strengths and needs of our armed forces by ensuring that this new legislation is fit for purpose
Ministers must listen to service community concerns on the Armed Forces Bill
Defence
By Stephen Morgan MP
Ministers must listen to service community concerns on the Armed Forces Bill
The Armed Forces Bill Select Committee publishes its report today following a month-long inquiry. While cross-party colleagues and I have welcomed the broad intent of the bill, its shortcomings risk undermining the government’s lofty promises to our service communities.
Leaders must learn from the mistakes of the past to help female recruits in future
Defence
By Sarah Atherton
Leaders must learn from the mistakes of the past to help female recruits in future
When I became the MP for Wrexham in 2019, the most striking thing for me were the similarities between Parliament and the military.
Women Soldiers Forced To Use Socks and Paper As Period Products While On Tour, MPs told
Defence
Women Soldiers Forced To Use Socks and Paper As Period Products While On Tour, MPs told
Women in the military have turned to using socks and bits of paper when they get their period on tour because the army does not supply them with sanitary products, a committee of MPs has heard.
The Integrated Review must clarify the UK’s approach to security and our position on the world stage
Defence
By Tobias Ellwood
The Integrated Review must clarify the UK’s approach to security and our position on the world stage
The defence committee urge the Government to provide greater transparency surrounding who is involved in the Integrated Review and how different aspects will be structured and sequenced.
Tory MP Mark Francois tells head of the army to overhaul defence or Dominic Cummings will ‘sort you out’
Defence
Tory MP Mark Francois tells head of the army to overhaul defence or Dominic Cummings will ‘sort you out’
Tory MP Mark Francois has warned the UK's most senior army general that Dominic Cummings will “sort you out his own way” if the Ministry of Defence is not reformed.
What the Future Holds – how we support the Armed Forces community will help define our national identity Partner content
Coronavirus
By Forces in Mind Trust
What the Future Holds – how we support the Armed Forces community will help define our national identity
Our role over these last extraordinary few months has been to provide a forward look for the Armed Forces charities sector.
Operation CONNECT is making a real difference to the RAF community during the pandemic Partner content
Coronavirus
By Raytheon UK
Operation CONNECT is making a real difference to the RAF community during the pandemic
Within days of the COVID-19 lockdown being implemented across the country, the Royal Air Forces Association (RAFA) revolutionised its services to meet the needs of the RAF community, with support from Raytheon UK.
As China expands its authoritarian military influence across the world, the West must face up to a new Sputnik moment
Coronavirus
By Tobias Ellwood
As China expands its authoritarian military influence across the world, the West must face up to a new Sputnik moment
Beijing is deliberately shunning international accountability and rules, and now the UK needs to face up to the serious questions about Huawei, 5G and our security
Women still face barriers in the UK Armed Forces - here is how to overcome them
Defence
By Sarah Atherton
Women still face barriers in the UK Armed Forces - here is how to overcome them
Women can serve across all roles in the Armed Forces. But to cement this progress we must tackle the remaining hurdles to truly unlock the full potential of female service personnel
Tobias Ellwood: “We’re moving towards a more populist, nationalistic, isolated post-virus world”
Coronavirus
By Sebastian Whale
Tobias Ellwood: “We’re moving towards a more populist, nationalistic, isolated post-virus world”
When the UK emerges from the coronavirus outbreak, Tobias Ellwood believes it will be greeted by a “worsening world”. With geopolitical threats refusing to go away, and “wily adversaries” likely to take advantage of the global crisis, the Defence Committee chair is concerned about the future. He talks to Sebastian Whale.
The Government must prioritise defence procurement practice and personnel to show global leadership
Defence
The Government must prioritise defence procurement practice and personnel to show global leadership

Representing one-quarter of the RAF, and with a track record on procurement, I believe I am the right person to chair the Defence Committee and hold government to account 
Robust scrutiny is required at a critical time for UK defence
Defence
Robust scrutiny is required at a critical time for UK defence

We need new thinking about how the government spends its defence budget. I have the experience to bring this as chair of the Defence Select Committee, writes Bernard Jenkin MP
I will not use the Defence Committee post as a personal soapbox
Defence
I will not use the Defence Committee post as a personal soapbox

The Defence Committee demands a strong and experienced chair who will speak up without fear or favour, writes James Gray MP
The UK must prepare for a dangerous decade and seek a more influential role
Defence
The UK must prepare for a dangerous decade and seek a more influential role

The rise of China and the fundamental questions about the UK’s hard power capacity are major issues for the Defence Select Committee, writes Tobias Ellwood MP 
Reckless raids on the Armed Forces' budget sabotage our best interests
Defence
Reckless raids on the Armed Forces' budget sabotage our best interests

A negative press briefing shows the MoD to be fighting back against misjudged cuts. Defence Select Committee chair Julian Lewis reports on the coup that failed