More than three quarters of voters (78%) believe that Britain’s Armed Forces are “dangerously over-stretched”. Seventy per cent think that the Government is “failing to give the Armed Forces the resources they need”. Only 32% feel that the Government “treats our Armed Forces with the respect they deserve”.

Over half of the electorate (57%) say that they will consider each party’s policy on Defence when deciding how to vote in the next election. This figure rises to 63% among voters in vital seats in the South East.

Results from the poll of 1,002 adults, carried out by ComRes between 19 and 21 September, reflect voters’ concerns about the state of the UK’s Armed Forces.

Shadow Defence Secretary, Dr Liam Fox, is due to lead a discussion on the Armed Forces later today (Sunday 28 Sept) at the Conservative Party Conference in Birmingham. Immediately prior to the debate, the UKNDA is holding a conference fringe-meeting at which leading figures from within the Conservative Party and the Armed Forces will call for a Tory manifesto commitment to increase Defence spending.

Author and broadcaster Prof. Richard Holmes and Gulf War ‘Desert Rat’ General Patrick Cordingley will join former Shadow Defence Secretary Bernard Jenkin MP and former MP Winston Churchill (grandson of Britain’s wartime leader) on the platform at this meeting to endorse the UKNDA’s campaign.

The UKNDA last week published a major report – Overcoming the Defence Crisis – setting out the case for a 40% increase in Defence spending to meet current requirements and likely future threats, and calling for regular Defence reviews. The report argues that “Defence provision should be threat-driven, not budget-driven.”

Former Chief of the Defence Staff, General Lord Guthrie, a Patron of the UKNDA, said: "Defence has been under-funded, and risks have been taken with our security and the size and equipping of our Armed Forces for many years. The Government has now been foced by events, and the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, to urgently find additional funding for our servicemen and servicewomen - but it is too little, too late.

"Despite repeated warnings, our Services are neglected and under-resourced. This has cost lives. Hopefully, politicians of all parties will now recognise their responsibilities, and how we have to be prepared for the future and the unexpected."

UKNDA President Winston S. Churchill - grandson of Britain's wartime leader - added: "It is time that Britain's politicians woke up to the fact that there are votes in Defence, and that the public overwhelmingly feel that this Government is 'failing to give the Armed Forces the resources they need' - and they are absolutely right!"

UKNDA Chief Executive Cdr John Muxworthy commented: “Our Armed Forces are chronically under-funded. In the past two decades, Defence spending as a proportion of GDP has halved. This has left our Forces dangerously over-stretched, as the British public has recognised. The latest opinion poll confirms that Defence has become a key election issue, with the majority of voters backing the UKNDA’s call for increased Defence spending and a fairer deal for our nation’s hard-pressed service personnel and their families.”

-Ends

For further information or interview opportunities please contact:

Cdr. John Muxworthy, CEO, UKNDA, tel 01264 860693, email ceo@uknda.org

Andy Smith, PRO, UKNDA, tel: 07737 271676, email pro@uknda.org

Greig Baker, Director, ComRes, tel: 0207 340 9637 / 07738 931036, email greig@comres.co.uk

Editor’s Notes:

1. The United Kingdom National Defence Association (UKNDA) was formed in 2007 to campaign for sufficient, appropriate and fully-funded Armed Forces. UKNDA's President is Winston S. Churchill, the former Conservative MP, war correspondent, and grandson of Britain’s wartime Prime Minister. Patrons include three former Chiefs of the Defence Staff – Lords Guthrie, Craig and Boyce – as well as former Labour Foreign Secretary Lord Owen and former Liberal Democrat Leader Sir Menzies Campbell. Please see www.uknda.org

2. The poll was carried out by ComRes on behalf of the UKNDA between 19 and 21 September 2008 and comprised telephone interviews with 1,002 adults throughout Great Britain, with data weighted to demographically represent the adult population of Great Britain. Please see www.comres.co.uk for further details, or email greig@comres.co.uk

3. The UKNDA’s “Support our Armed Forces” fringe-meeting will be held at Austin Court, Cambridge Street, Birmingham, at 1300hrs on Sunday 28 September. Details from Andy Smith on 07737 271676.