We should once again become a strong military power that can act positively where necessary and when it is in our national interests, including deployment around our sea borders to prevent illegal immigration and to ensure that our airspace, 200-mile Exclusive Economic Zone and underwater infrastructure is secure.

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Our armed forces should take on Disaster and Emergency Relief on behalf of the nation rather than NGOs. The part of the foreign aid budget for disasters and emergencies should be re-allocated to the armed forces so they can carry out this function quickly and efficiently.

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Our military personnel should be supplied with all the equipment they need to do the jobs they are asked to do. This includes a greater number of aircraft carriers, destroyers, frigates and submarines to replace those which have been decommissioned, and enough suitable barracks and living quarters for servicemen and their families.

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There must be no control of our armed forces by anyone apart from the UK government. We must pull out of all programmes and schemes which even hint at joint control or management of our military with the EU including the European Defence Agency (EDA), the European Defence Fund (EDF), the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP), Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO), and the Coordinated Annual Review of Defence (CARD).

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The UK should not become entangled in far-away foreign conflicts which have nothing to do with our national interests and only benefit the chaos mongers of the military-industrial complex who profit from war. Since the end of the cold war, successive governments have sent our armed forces to engage in unnecessary military action in Yugoslavia, Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, Syria and Ukraine that was neither for the defence of the realm or the protection of the British people. On the contrary, the damage to the long-term stability of multiple nations has created migration crises that are detrimental to social cohesion and public safety at home. 

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In the future, we should hold to the principle of non-engagement in third party conflicts and de-escalation of tensions at the earliest possible juncture to avoid unnecessary death, suffering, homelessness and migration.

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We will treasure our armed forces, veterans enjoying excellent housing and health care so that they know their sacrifice has been so appreciated, for one who is prepared to give his life for another is very special indeed.

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We do however believe in Scotland that we have two special areas in which the military can be further used. This is in the setting up of a National Guard taking on in Scotland three major areas of distress:

 

1. THE HANDLING OF DRUG CARTELS and THE SELLING OF ILLEGAL DRUGS WITHIN SCOTLAND: It would seem Police Scotland are not winning the battle here and whilst decentralization of the Police to come under restored elected County Councils will make a difference, it certainly is not getting to the root of this. For example, whilst Venezuela does not appear to be a major producer of illegal drugs it most certainly is a transit country to both Britain and America. If we are to engage in a war it needs to be a war against drugs that are destroying families and individuals, and whilst a National Guard can take on the drug pushers of Scotland and bring them to justice for severe penalties, it will take an international military effort to stop these drugs at source, and in government we will be pressing for this strongly to rid Scotland from all illegal drug pushing and taking.

2. PEOPLE SMUGGLING GANGS: as with drug cartels so with people smuggling, grooming gangs, slave trades etc. etc. In government we will be pro-active too to save the many victims of these terrible trades, our military becoming known for taking on these enemies of state for the protection of all.

3. Scotland was very much a victim of the Northern Ireland trouble with infiltrators affecting businesses stealing goods and cash towards whatever sectarian cause they were supporting. In addition to this the affects of the dreadful Irish Famine still impact parts of Scotland, particularly the West Coast with the hurts, bitterness’s and unforgiveness impacting over many decades. The Scottish Heritage Party encourages both existing charities and newly set up ones to help victims of the “no prosecution list” of the Tony Blair and John Major era, that those who were victims of crime commonly losing all of family inheritances have some form of compensation from whatever part of the divide they come. This Scottish Heritage Party initiative will bring together both sides into healthy dialogue and regret over violence and threat from one side to another.

 

It is recognised however that there is a minority who want to continue sectarian hatreds and bitterness, even to the point of being fully armed. Our newly formed National Guard comprising members from both sides of the divide will look to counteract this, with the Police looking to bring together all sides of the divide. This will mean this issue being well and truly dealt with to the point where Celtic and Rangers can play football matches not denying the histories of both clubs but acknowledging these histories without bitterness and forgiveness.

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The example of the British and Irish Lions in Rugby Union needs to come to the fore which is so special, an example that can come into all sports as we recognize a close relationship with the Republic of Ireland for good, social and economic development rather than lingering over the hurts of the past.