The Reader: We must protect the UK merchant fleet at all costs

Evening Standard

26 June 2019 at 5:04 am

THE next prime minister should indeed act on Robert Fox’s article [“Iran crisis shows new PM must modernise Britain’s defence — and do it fast,” June 21]. Not only do affairs in the Strait of Hormuz need careful handling but other nations with the opportunity to control the world’s maritime “choke points”, which handle much of the world’s sea trade, will be watching too. Some 95 per cent of UK trade is by sea and we would soon notice the shortages were merchant ships not to arrive at our ports every hour. With many wayward regimes on our planet, we must work more closely with allies to ensure that our interests and trade worldwide are protected. Yet today’s UK naval fleet is the smallest in 200 years.Our blue planet is so-called for a reason — 71 per cent is water. For this reason warships will never be things of the past.With a nearly £2 trillion national debt, one cannot argue for a larger defence budget. Unsentimental defence reorganisation is essential. Lester May EDITOR'S REPLYDear LesterA ROBUST maritime strategy is vital to the country’s future, as you rightly point out, particularly for the security of food and energy imports but also as new changes in the maritime environment loom, from the effects of climate change to new patterns in population movement.We must also counter continuing security threats — not least “choke points” such as the Strait of Hormuz, the Strait of Malacca and maybe the English Channel in the not- too-distant future.A modest uplift in the UK defence budget is on the cards but big-ticket equipment items such as the F-35 fighter and aircraft carriers need to be kept under strict review.The aims of national strategy are clear — the safeguarding of the nation, its people, international allies and interests, and their values.How we manage this is much trickier. Perhaps the MoD and the National Security Council now need their own “thinking outside the box” department and sub-committee?Robert Fox, Defence Editor We need India like never beforeYesterday saw the release of the Commons foreign affairs committee report, Building Bridges. Despite it being the biggest report to date on relations between the UK and India, its name is less than apt.The UK prides itself on leading the charge forward on the global stage but now we are on the brink of a reversal of historic roles. While India strides ahead, Britain is increasingly reliant on India, for example, for tech talent and innovative solutions to modern problems. The research concluded that the UK has failed to adapt its strategy to keep pace with India’s enhanced influence on the world stage. As a result, it is unforgivably falling behind in the global race. As the new prime minister gets ready to take up the challenge of delivering Brexit, it is imperative that reinforcing the structural foundations of the UK’s bridge with India is a priority. Brexit or no Brexit, India backs Britain. Now the UK must take the next step — and fully embrace India as a partner. Manoj Ladwa Founder, India Inc and UK-India Week Make the Tube and rail truly driverlessThe next government needs to invest in operatorless trains and Tubes, as has already happened with the DLR [“Tube facing July shutdown as union puts itself on ‘war-footing’,” June 24]. That will end the need for operators and save the country billions of pounds as we would have almost no disruption.Driverless public transport is already here. Some trains and Tubes don’t have drivers, only operators, who are much like the nearly-defunct lift operators. Buses, by contrast, have true drivers. They interact with passengers, negotiate traffic, deal with irate or bad road users — none of which train/Tube operators do, though they get paid a lot more. Jayson Edwards Ireland is the big issue for next PMHow will a future Prime Minister deal with the difficult situation of the Irish backstop? I am sure many people when they voted to leave the EU had no idea of the impact on the people of Ireland, and in particular the people of Northern Ireland, who suffered so much during the Troubles. Geraldine EllisTheresa May asked Brussels for backstop changes — she failed. Much more likely, I think, there will be a second referendum instead. Jeremy Rolls

The Reader: We must protect the UK merchant fleet at all costs

THE next prime minister should indeed act on Robert Fox’s article [“Iran crisis shows new PM must modernise Britain’s defence — and do it fast,” June 21]. Not only do affairs in the Strait of Hormuz need careful handling but other nations with the opportunity to control the world’s maritime “choke points”, which handle much of the world’s sea trade, will be watching too. Some 95 per cent of UK trade is by sea and we would soon notice the shortages were merchant ships not to arrive at our ports every hour. With many wayward regimes on our planet, we must work more closely with allies to ensure that our interests and trade worldwide are protected. Yet today’s UK naval fleet is the smallest in 200 years.Our blue planet is so-called for a reason — 71 per cent is water. For this reason warships will never be things of the past.With a nearly £2 trillion national debt, one cannot argue for a larger defence budget. Unsentimental defence reorganisation is essential. Lester May EDITOR'S REPLYDear LesterA ROBUST maritime strategy is vital to the country’s future, as you rightly point out, particularly for the security of food and energy imports but also as new changes in the maritime environment loom, from the effects of climate change to new patterns in population movement.We must also counter continuing security threats — not least “choke points” such as the Strait of Hormuz, the Strait of Malacca and maybe the English Channel in the not- too-distant future.A modest uplift in the UK defence budget is on the cards but big-ticket equipment items such as the F-35 fighter and aircraft carriers need to be kept under strict review.The aims of national strategy are clear — the safeguarding of the nation, its people, international allies and interests, and their values.How we manage this is much trickier. Perhaps the MoD and the National Security Council now need their own “thinking outside the box” department and sub-committee?Robert Fox, Defence Editor We need India like never beforeYesterday saw the release of the Commons foreign affairs committee report, Building Bridges. Despite it being the biggest report to date on relations between the UK and India, its name is less than apt.The UK prides itself on leading the charge forward on the global stage but now we are on the brink of a reversal of historic roles. While India strides ahead, Britain is increasingly reliant on India, for example, for tech talent and innovative solutions to modern problems. The research concluded that the UK has failed to adapt its strategy to keep pace with India’s enhanced influence on the world stage. As a result, it is unforgivably falling behind in the global race. As the new prime minister gets ready to take up the challenge of delivering Brexit, it is imperative that reinforcing the structural foundations of the UK’s bridge with India is a priority. Brexit or no Brexit, India backs Britain. Now the UK must take the next step — and fully embrace India as a partner. Manoj Ladwa Founder, India Inc and UK-India Week Make the Tube and rail truly driverlessThe next government needs to invest in operatorless trains and Tubes, as has already happened with the DLR [“Tube facing July shutdown as union puts itself on ‘war-footing’,” June 24]. That will end the need for operators and save the country billions of pounds as we would have almost no disruption.Driverless public transport is already here. Some trains and Tubes don’t have drivers, only operators, who are much like the nearly-defunct lift operators. Buses, by contrast, have true drivers. They interact with passengers, negotiate traffic, deal with irate or bad road users — none of which train/Tube operators do, though they get paid a lot more. Jayson Edwards Ireland is the big issue for next PMHow will a future Prime Minister deal with the difficult situation of the Irish backstop? I am sure many people when they voted to leave the EU had no idea of the impact on the people of Ireland, and in particular the people of Northern Ireland, who suffered so much during the Troubles. Geraldine EllisTheresa May asked Brussels for backstop changes — she failed. Much more likely, I think, there will be a second referendum instead. Jeremy Rolls

Some 95 per cent of UK trade is by sea and we would soon notice the shortages were merchant ships not to arrive at our ports every hour. With many wayward regimes on our planet, we must work more closely with allies to ensure that our interests and trade worldwide are protected. Yet today’s UK naval fleet is the smallest in 200 years.

Our blue planet is so-called for a reason — 71 per cent is water. For this reason warships will never be things of the past.

With a nearly £2 trillion national debt, one cannot argue for a larger defence budget. Unsentimental defence reorganisation is essential.
Lester May

EDITOR'S REPLY

Dear Lester

A ROBUST maritime strategy is vital to the country’s future, as you rightly point out, particularly for the security of food and energy imports but also as new changes in the maritime environment loom, from the effects of climate change to new patterns in population movement.

We must also counter continuing security threats — not least “choke points” such as the Strait of Hormuz, the Strait of Malacca and maybe the English Channel in the not- too-distant future.

A modest uplift in the UK defence budget is on the cards but big-ticket equipment items such as the F-35 fighter and aircraft carriers need to be kept under strict review.

The aims of national strategy are clear — the safeguarding of the nation, its people, international allies and interests, and their values.

How we manage this is much trickier. Perhaps the MoD and the National Security Council now need their own “thinking outside the box” department and sub-committee?

Robert Fox, Defence Editor

We need India like never before

Yesterday saw the release of the Commons foreign affairs committee report, Building Bridges. Despite it being the biggest report to date on relations between the UK and India, its name is less than apt.The UK prides itself on leading the charge forward on the global stage but now we are on the brink of a reversal of historic roles. While India strides ahead, Britain is increasingly reliant on India, for example, for tech talent and innovative solutions to modern problems.

The research concluded that the UK has failed to adapt its strategy to keep pace with India’s enhanced influence on the world stage. As a result, it is unforgivably falling behind in the global race.

As the new prime minister gets ready to take up the challenge of delivering Brexit, it is imperative that reinforcing the structural foundations of the UK’s bridge with India is a priority. Brexit or no Brexit, India backs Britain. Now the UK must take the next step — and fully embrace India as a partner.
Manoj Ladwa
Founder, India Inc and UK-India Week

Make the Tube and rail truly driverless

The next government needs to invest in operatorless trains and Tubes, as has already happened with the DLR [“Tube facing July shutdown as union puts itself on ‘war-footing’,” June 24]. That will end the need for operators and save the country billions of pounds as we would have almost no disruption.

Driverless public transport is already here. Some trains and Tubes don’t have drivers, only operators, who are much like the nearly-defunct lift operators. Buses, by contrast, have true drivers. They interact with passengers, negotiate traffic, deal with irate or bad road users — none of which train/Tube operators do, though they get paid a lot more.
Jayson Edwards

Ireland is the big issue for next PM

How will a future Prime Minister deal with the difficult situation of the Irish backstop? I am sure many people when they voted to leave the EU had no idea of the impact on the people of Ireland, and in particular the people of Northern Ireland, who suffered so much during the Troubles.
Geraldine Ellis

Theresa May asked Brussels for backstop changes — she failed. Much more likely, I think, there will be a second referendum instead.
Jeremy Rolls