John Baron MP presses Government on defence spending

MP says Royal Navy needs more warships

Following the seizure by the Iranian Government of the British-flagged tanker Stena Impero, yesterday the Foreign Secretary, Rt Hon Jeremy Hunt MP, updated the House of Commons on the situation.

In the Chamber, John asked,

“Given that the risk of seizure was foreseen and that 95% of goods entering the UK do so by sea, does the Foreign Secretary agree that a Royal Navy of fewer than 20 ships is not up to the task and that we need to spend more on our defence, because no matter how capable a ship, it can not be in more than one place at a time?”

The Foreign Secretary responded that the Royal Navy has become too small, and that he hopes the next Prime Minister will address this.

Afterwards, John said,

“This incident serves to remind us that we taken freedom of navigation on the world’s sea-lanes for granted, and are forgetting the value of a global navy ready to take action when required to ensure that routes remain open. A Royal Navy of only 19 surface ships – fewer in practice, when repairs and refits are taken into account – does not have the global reach to ensure this.”

“Whoever is the next Prime Minister, it is imperative that defence spending is increased and that more resources are directed towards the Royal Navy. At the moment, the waves are ruling Britannia.”