Nick's work on Defence

Nick served as the Lib Dems' Shadow Defence Secretary from 2006 until the 2010 General Election, after which he was asked to take on the role of Minister of State for the Armed Forces within the coalition Government.

Nick's North Devon constituency is home to the Royal Marines' Chivenor Barracks, base for logistics personnel of both the Royal Marines and the Royal Engineers, currently deployed together in Afghanistan, as well as the RAF's Search And Rescue service.

One of the first issues Nick confronted as Lib Dem defence spokesman was the Government bouncing Parliament and the country into a totally premature decision to replace Britain's nuclear deterrent, the submarine-based Trident. Final contracts will not be signed off until 2014 at the earliest, which is when the political decision should be made.

Since then, Nick and his team have worked up a comprehensive policy on armed forces' welfare, launched a blogsite, campaigned on behalf of the Gurkhas, opposed Britain's use of cluster munitions and thermobaric weapons, raised serious questions over the US missile defence programme, and are now scrutinising the MoD procurement plans.

In May 2008 the two Nicks - Clegg and Harvey - visited Afghanistan together, and returned doubly determined to support NATO's mission there.

DEFENCE BLOGSITE

LIB DEM "FORCES FOCUS" BLOGSITE

DEFENCE POLICIES

OUR NATION'S DUTY - Lib Dem proposals for Armed Forces Welfare

NO CHOICE BUT CHANGE - The Military Covenant in its Strategic Context

DEFENCE NEWS RELEASES

Dannatt right to highlight military overstretch

Parliament must be allowed to vote on nuclear deterrent

Government cutbacks on military rehab centres unacceptable

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DEFENCE ARTICLES

Liberal Democrat Defence Policy

Practical and principled defence

Overstretch and recruitment in the armed forces

Overstretch in the armed forces

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DEFENCE SPEECHES

Defence Policy (30.10.08)

Defence in the UK (9.10.08)

Defence Procurement (19.6.08)

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