James Cartlidge: “All of Labour's strategic defense review promises will be taken with a pinch of salt unless they can show there will…”

Russia’s provocative actions are totally unjustified, and we back our brave service personnel in facing them down.

Whilst other countries have used conscription, we remain committed to a professional, volunteer armed forces – and that means we need to make reserve service financially worthwhile.

Only by prioritising defence spending over a bigger welfare state can the government hope to deliver the funding our forces need.

With a £10bn budget, this would be one of Britain's most significant military programmes since the Cold War.