moonraker

Just in case you were unsure about defence under the Tories RUSI provided this a little dated but still relevant. ( RUSI Analysis, 25 Mar 2013 By Professor Malcolm Chalmers, Research Director / Director, UK Defence Policy Studies): UK defence spending was further squeezed in the 2013 Budget announcement. It is likely to face additional cuts for 2015/16 in the 2015 Spending Review. The defence budget for subsequent years may depend on how the 2015 Spending Review shares the burden of future austerity between expenditure cuts and tax rises. This year's Budget, announced on 20 March, was not good news for British defence. The Chancellor found time in his speech to announce that the armed forces would be exempt from the restrictions on progression pay introduced for civilian officials. He also confirmed that they would receive an additional 'X factor' allowance, equivalent to an extra 0.45 per cent on their base pay. But he only mentioned in outline his decision (conveyed to Cabinet colleagues the day before the Budget) to make a further 1 per cent cut in departmental current budgets, over and above those made in the December 2012 Autumn Statement. Defence Spending Cuts in Context In order to find out what these cuts mean for defence, it is necessary to examine 'Supplementary Table 1', published separately from the main Red Book on the Treasury website. This shows that the Ministry of Defence's (MoD) resource budget (excluding capital spending) is being cut by a further £249 million in 2013/14, and by an additional £247 million in 2014/15. As with the previous round of cuts, announced in the Autumn Statement, these reductions are bigger (in absolute terms) than those for any other single government department.

VW agree with all you say, I am concerend that traditionally the UK was very tight with medals, you had to earn them in one way or another. The Silver Jubilee Medal was awarded on a very limited basis, 2 were allocated to an SSK, one went ot the Captain and the other to a rating chosen by the Captian (if memory serves). Then jump forward 25 years and as you say 18 year old Cadet Instructors get one! Having blotted my copy book I dipped out of my LSGC medal and the one campaign medal I have i to am proud of.

What the f**k is going on, are we turning into yanks and commies, the Tories have just announced that Reservists will get a gong for 10, yes 10, years service, this on top of every man and his dog with a uniform getting jubilee medals. I know many ex RN who served up to 35 years and did not receive any gongs, cold war, jubilees the best you could hope for as Rating was LSGC, to some the lack of gongs is sign of success, peace was maintained. I assume the reservist medal is a pathetic attempt to encourage recruits to make up for the short fall, still better than seconding US Coastguard Engineers to man our ships as the much put upon and abused RN has had to do. Any one interested in defence who believes its safe with the Tories are deluded at best!

It also shows that 99% of journos and pundits don't what they are talking about, they universally predicted the end!

It wasnt Chris Lines it was Andy Williams with the wonder strike and winner.

Well, first game for Moonraker jnr and me of the season,thanks to my son moonraker jnr winning tickets at a raffle at his school, Beechen Cliff Bath!!!! (Jason Dodd) plus the home of Saints Academy Bath! Any ways after 7 pints of Thatchers Gold I am now able to comment! I expected a tough game and we got it, but we won, the current SFC team has more potential than i have ever seen (First Game 1963) the dutch chap seems to understand how to play the beautiful game. COYR

Never realised UDI was country specific, perhaps u could declare UDI and f**k Off!

Or arsenal even

Not if area score

Salmond seems to have lost the plot, whilst I cant stand his politics I always thought he was a 'clever' politician. A key policy for an independent Scotland is to join the EU, I hardley think declaring UDI is going to be well received in Brussels or in any other interantional organisation with whom an indpendent Scotland would need to deal with.

Be interesting to see the shenanigans if they created a self governing Solent conurbation!

I never said you were lying. As you imply any Scottish ‘nationals’ are already cleared to the highest levels including some of the GOLD you mention not sure they will immediately have to give it up especially as an Independent Scotland wont actually exist for at least 18 months it will be part of the negotiation. My point is that there will be a transition period they wont be turned out on the 18th of September. The interesting area is the deal on nuclear submarines with the USA and in that area I agree with you there could be some interesting developments.

Its still my day 40 years in and counting in Defence.

Not at all, I served with many Southern Irish in the RN in the 70s and 80s who had SC clearance and even higher. So many of your comments are based on little or no real knowledge where do you get this stuff from, and don't quote the fact we all know that you are submariner.

And mine

I have been using an EROS vaporiser for over 4 months, after 45 years a smoker. I fully endorse matyg1950's comments. In the past I have tried the patches, gum inhalers, will power etc but like you I enjoy the habit as much as the addiction. It is working well for me I truly feel that I have given up tobacco.

Sorry forgot teh important but: Optimax Bristol, both eyses 5 years ago about £3k but paid interest free over 2 years.

Yes and I reccomend it.

The delicious irony of a Yes vote would be that the SNP no longer have a reason to exist. There would have to be a quick General Election which would result in either a Labour victory or a hung parliament with Labour as the biggest party. I do not believe the Scots will vote yes, the risks are to great on currency, EU membership, oil price volatility and pension affordability. The pools are very difficult to judge, it has been widely reported that the unknowns are the key and I am sure when faced with the choice between the status quo, even if means the occasional Tory Government, and the unknown the vast majority will vote no.

The term bigger is to subjective, The Vile are definitely more famous and are an original member. Today they have slipped way down but not as far as some of their Victorian contemporaries. The future is more red and white than claret and blue so get on th bus bus Vlarr.

Wow, more people support Man U, Scouse, Gooners, City Chelsea than saints!!!! Living in Bath I am often surprised by the number of SFC shirts I see around. That they are not on sale in the sports shop chains is club policy. s to barca etc I know many fans of english clubs who also own these types of shirt, they are alomost accepted as neutral.

More like inept posting! How would you calculate the value of Southampton FC's Shirt sponsorship?

Definitely,Ron is still our greatest striker of the last 60 years.

Rickie should stay. If we want a current saint then it has to be Kelvin.I also believe that the Bobby stokes should be up there, with a skate shirt just to show those retards at the other end of the m 27 that we are above any pettiness!

Agree, but when they endlessly reapeat it and modify it and contradict it and repeat it............................. it does get a tad tiresome, more quality less quantity and less abuse wouldny go amiss.