We've asked a lot of our troops in the past decade. Too much, really. We fail to equip them properly and we don't have enough of them. Then we go and send them off all over the world where despite this they do their duty and perform with the utmost professionalism. Nowhere is this more true than in the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts.

The soldiers, sailors, airmen, marines, civilians, and their families that make up our Armed Forces are the backbone of this nation’s security. But a decade of neglect by Labour has left them overstretched, undermanned, and in possession of worn-out equipment.  

A Conservative Government will match resources with commitments by launching a Strategic Defence Review and introducing a US-style system of quadrennial defence reviews. It is completely unacceptable that the last Strategic Defence Review was conducted a decade ago.

Future defence procurement projects will be determined on five criteria:

Capability
Interoperability
Adaptability
Affordability
Exportability

We will streamline the procurement process to ensure the speedy delivery of equipment to the front line. And we will immediately reinstate the Defence Export Services Organisation (DESO) to ensure a healthy UK defence sector.

We will oppose the defence provisions in the Lisbon Treaty and ensure that Nato, not the EU, remains the cornerstone of our nation’s defence. And we are committed to maintaining the UK's nuclear deterrent.

Most importantly, a Conservative Government will repair the broken Military Covenant, respect our Armed Forces, and ensure that Forces’ families and veterans are taken care of.

Our Military Covenant Commission has recommended better ways of taking care of service members and their families. The Commission's report will provide the basis for our Armed Forces manifesto which will establish a strong relationship between the Armed Forces and the next Conservative Government.