I accept some of what my hon. Friend says. However, I pray in aid the recent United Kingdom National Defence Association report, ““Inconvenient Truths””, which was written by former defence chiefs. It said:"““Our assessment is that current force levels are inadequate to hold off even a small-size invasion””."
Admiral Sir Sandy Woodward wrote in the Daily Mail:"““The truth is we couldn't defend anything further than the other side of the Channel””."
Air Commodore Andrew Lambert was quoted in The Guardian as saying that the"““British public is not aware how thin the ice is…or how bad things could get””"
and that the Falkland Islands are"““ripe for the picking.””"
I am not saying that I want this to happen or that it will happen, but I am afraid that we in this House must occasionally sound warnings—that is our duty.
Strategic Defence and Security Review
Proceeding contribution from
Edward Leigh
(Conservative)
in the House of Commons on Thursday, 26 January 2012.
It occurred during Backbench debate on Strategic Defence and Security Review.
Type
Proceeding contribution
Reference
539 c487-8 
Session
2010-12
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
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Timestamp
2023-12-15 15:31:51 +0000
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