Our Defence Budget: Public Money for Public Safety, Not Private Profit

It’s easy to point fingers at government spending and say it’s all inefficient. Of course, there are always areas for improvement, and nobody wants to see public money wasted. But the idea that handing over something as fundamental as national defence to private companies, driven by nothing but profit, is the simple answer just doesn’t sit right with me. It feels like a very dangerous shortcut.

We've seen what happens when essential services are privatised. Costs often go up in the long run, accountability vanishes, and the quality can suffer as corners are cut to boost shareholder dividends. Defence isn't like outsourcing the catering for a council meeting. It’s about protecting our country, our people, and frankly, it's too important to be left to the market. What happens if a key supplier goes bust during a critical time? That’s not a risk we should be taking.