Imjin Barracks highlighted as MP hopefuls discuss importance of NATO and nuclear deterrent

Imjin Barracks, the headquarters of NATO’s Allied Rapid Reaction Corps in Innsworth, was highlighted at a general election hustings this week as Tewkesbury MP hopefuls discussed the importance of defence. Candidates were asked by a semi-retired Royal Navy officer for their views on the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and the UK’s Trident nuclear deterrent.

“Labour says they are committed to NATO and our nuclear deterrent,” he said. “The Conservatives have a clear track record of renewing our nuclear deterrent and in supporting NATO.

“Reform UK blames NATO and the EU for the current situation in Ukraine and the current destabilisation in Europe. But say they wish to maintain our leading role in NATO.

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“The Liberal Democrats hardly mention NATO in their manifesto and say we should be keeping closer ties with the EU. Who should we trust to restore and preserve the peace in Europe?”

David Edgar, Christian People’s Alliance candidate, told those present at Tewkesbury Abbey on June 25 that his party’s policy is to stop funding trident and instead use technology similar to Israel’s air

“It’s not a deterrent unfortunately,” he said. “That’s where there’s a huge gap. Yes, we do need a nuclear deterrent, in my opinion, I differ from my party there.

“Yes we do need NATO and we do need Trident.”

Conservative Laurence Robertson said the UK needs to be a member of NATO and support it. He said if re-elected the Tories will boost defence spending.

“That not only strengthens our own armed forces and defence which is important for this area where there is a lot of manufacturing. But it also sets the benchmark for the rest of the NATO members.”

He said NATO has been the bedrock of the UK’s security and he totally rejects the suggestion any expansion of it caused the invasion of Ukraine. “That is not the case at all,” he said.

“NATO is a defensive shield. It is not in anyway threatening to any countries. I totally support NATO and our membership of NATO.

"And if there is a Conservative government re-elected we will do everything we can to make sure it remains strong and a peacekeeping force.”

Liberal Democrat Cameron Thomas said the responsibility for the war in Ukraine “lies firmly at the door of Vladimir Putin and nobody else”. He said the war is mislabelled and we are actually looking at a “Russian war in Europe and Ukraine is just the frontline”.

The Liberal Democrats are fully invested in NATO being one of the guarantees the UK has against Russian aggression. The other being the nuclear deterrent. “We don’t have to like nuclear weapons but we must understand the world we are in," he said.

“The Liberal Democrats maintain that we should aspire to denuclearisation but that is not the world we are in. Therefore we have committed to maintaining the nuclear deterrent.”

“Our constituency is the home of the NATO HQ Allied Rapid Reaction Corps where I myself was based at Imjin Barracks. We are fully committed to the military, we are fully committed to NATO, we are fully committed to stopping Vladimir Putin in Ukraine and we are fully committed to our nuclear deterrent.”

Green Party candidate Cate Cody said was proud to offer a different view. She said her party was one of peace, solidarity and human rights.

“We want to look to reform NATO, it’s not perfect. And try to get it to commit to no first use in terms of nuclear. We would look to rejoin the EU, we are much safer with our friends in Europe.

“We would push the UK to sign the UN treaty on the prohibition of nuclear weapons and then dismantle nuclear weapons including cancelling the Trident programme and removing foreign nuclear weapons from UK soil.”

She said it can happen and said South Africa did away with their nuclear weapons. And said there is a risk with nuclear energy. “It’s very toxic. We all remember Chernobyl and other horrific things that have happened to humanity.

“We bury this stuff deep in the ocean. We don’t know if it’s going to stay there forever or there will be a nuclear catastrophe.”

In terms of supporting veterans, she said her party is committed to those who have served the country and highlighted a motion that she proposed at Gloucestershire County Council to give unemployed ex-service personnel free bus passes.

Labour candidate Damola Animashaun and Reform UK’s Byron Davis did not attend the hustings.