Defending Democracy: A Blueprint to Rebuild Britain’s Resilience. Liberal Democrats plan for the Armed Forces.

For too long, the narrative of British defence has been one of managed decline—a series of "hollowed out" budgets and short-sighted "efficiency" drives that have left our nation vulnerable in an increasingly volatile world. As we look across the English Channel and the Atlantic, the geopolitical landscape is shifting beneath our feet. With Vladimir Putin’s illegal war in Ukraine raging on and the unpredictable shadow of an erratic Donald Trump looming over the NATO alliance, the Liberal Democrats believe it is time for a clear-eyed, patriotic commitment to our national security.

​Our message is simple: We cannot defend our values with a diminished force. To meet the challenges of the 21st century, the Government must prioritize reversing the Conservatives' reckless decision to cut 10,000 troops from the British Army and commit to a robust, long-term funding strategy that matches the defensive instincts of the British public.

​Reversing the "Napoleonic" Decline

​In 2021, the Conservative government announced plans to reduce the size of the regular army from 82,000 to just 72,500. This has left the British Army at its smallest size since the era of Napoleon, a fact the Liberal Democrats have consistently condemned. We are calling for this cut to be reversed immediately, restoring our forces to 82,000 by 2027 at the latest, the year by which defence spending is expected to reach 2.5% of GDP.

​The current state of our military capacity is deeply concerning. Professor Michael Clarke, former deputy director-general of the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), has noted that while the current target size might be sufficient to field a single combat division, it leaves zero capacity for the army to do anything else.

​The Liberal Democrats have been vocal about the risks of this shortfall, particularly regarding potential peacekeeping missions in Ukraine.

​“The government’s top priority for increased defence spending should be reversing the Conservatives' reckless troop cuts that have left the British army at its smallest size since Napoleon. We support the Prime Minister’s proposal for the potential deployment of UK troops as part of a reassurance mission in Ukraine. But there are serious questions about how this will work in practice unless we urgently boost troop numbers.” — Daisy Cooper MP, Liberal Democrat Deputy Leader  and Treasury Spokesperson 

​The Labour Era: A Lack of Urgency

​Since the 2024 General Election, the Labour government has made much of its commitment to "security as the first duty of government." However, the Liberal Democrats believe Labour are moving too slowly. While the Prime Minister finally committed to reaching 2.5% of GDP by 2027, Labour has been hesitant to set a firm date for reaching 3%, a target the Liberal Democrats believe is necessary for modern stability.

​Liberal Democrats have  been scathing of this "concerning lack of urgency":

​“Keir Starmer is showing a concerning lack of urgency on reaching 3%. With Putin waging war, Trump undermining NATO and conflicts raging, we must deliver for our Armed Forces and Britain's security in an increasingly unstable world. Anything less would be a dereliction of duty.” — Ed Davey MP, Liberal Democrats Leader. 

​By failing to immediately reverse the 10,000 troop cut, Labour is essentially codifying the Conservative legacy of a "hollowed out" force. The Liberal Democrats argue that a "once-in-a-generation" security threat requires immediate action, not "meaningless talk about vague aspirations for some unspecified time in the future."

​Moving Beyond Vague Aspirations

​The frustration with the current government’s pace is shared across the Liberal Democrats, and many MPs have criticized the government for failing to provide a clear roadmap for the investment our services desperately need.

​“The Spring Statement has made it abundantly clear that this Labour Government have no clue on how to raise defence spending beyond 2.5%. With continuing threats from an imperial Putin... the UK is far from being war-ready. The Government must urgently commit to reaching 3% of GDP for defence spending by 2030”— James MacCleary MP, Defence Spokesperson.

"That is why the Liberal Democrats are advocating for the government to start up a defence bonds programme, which would echo the war bonds issued in the First and Second World War and could raise up to £20bn for capital spending on defence over the next two years." Caroline Voaden MP 

​The Liberal Democrats have also pushed the government to address the "mass and deployability" of our forces, arguing that we must get troop numbers back up to a "critical mass" that allows the UK to carry out its duties overseas effectively.

​Funding the Future: Defence Bonds and Fair Tax

​A credible defence policy requires a credible funding plan. The Liberal Democrats have proposed a multi-pronged approach to reach a defence spending target of 3% of GDP by 2030:

​1. The Digital Services Tax

​We have called for the Digital Services Tax to be increased from 2% to 10%, which would raise an extra £3.2 billion in 2025-26, rising to £4.1 billion a year by 2029-30. This ensures tech giants pay their fair share to protect the digital and physical infrastructure they rely on.

​2. Patriotic Defence Bonds

​In early 2026, the party proposed the issuance of Defence Bonds to raise up to £20 billion for capital spending over the next two years. These bonds would give the public an opportunity to invest directly in Britain’s defence, much like the "war bonds" of the 20th century.

​“Defence Bonds would give ordinary people the opportunity to contribute to Britain’s security, joining together in a patriotic effort like the Greatest Generation did during the two world wars. It is much better to invest now in deterring a war than having to fight one.” - Ed Davey MP, 

​3. Seizing Russian Assets

​The Liberal Democrats have also championed the Russian Frozen Assets (Seizure and Aid to Ukraine) Bill, calling on the Government to seize the £40 billion worth of frozen Russian assets across the UK and Europe to fund the Ukrainian war effort.

​The Path Forward

​The Liberal Democrats believe that national security is the foundation of every other liberty. We cannot afford to wait until the mid-2030s to find our strength. By restoring troop numbers to 82,000, issuing Defence Bonds, and committing to 3% of GDP by 2030, we can ensure Britain remains a beacon of stability and a leader in Europe.

​It is time to be clear-eyed about the threats we face. We must act rapidly to bolster our Army and ensure our armed forces have the capabilities they need to keep our country and continent secure.