In Another Voice, the former soldier Al Carns claims that “buses and devolution and the price of a pint… are important, but none of them matter if we get security wrong”. But the 2025 Strategic Defence Review, which he supports, proposes increased defence expenditure through reduced spending on hospitals, infrastructure, schools, transport networks, welfare and climate transition. This demonstrates a blinkered and outdated view of security. As humanity faces an existential crisis brought about by accelerating climate change and ever more devastating weapons of mass destruction, we should be pressing for a significantly reduced defence budget, rooted in human security and common security, prioritising diplomacy, global cooperation, conflict prevention and investment in the social state, as proposed in the 2025 Alternative Defence Review commissioned by the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament.
Peter Smith, King’s Lynn, Norfolk
The female perspective
Yes, Grace Walsh, I do feel the same as you! Years ago I had a similar letter printed, identifying the lack of the female voice and perspective, and the omission of so many female politicians and stateswomen. I had hoped that the writing would change over the years, so that, like Grace, I could feel this was a magazine more representative of its potential readership.
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