Libyan crisis highlights need for Ark Royal

Tuesday, 8th March 2011

The Libyan crisis has immediately shown up the shortcomings of the government's recent cost saving defence review, according to UKIP MEP and Defence spokesman David Campbell Bannerman, who says the decision to scrap HMS Ark Royal must be reversed immediately.

As UKIP's spokesman for Defence, Mr Campbell Bannerman said: "It has become clear that having a British aircraft carrier stationed off Libya with some fast jets onboard would have helped our ground operations to rescue Brits trapped in all the chaos. Lives are at risk without it."

"A carrier is a floating piece of Britain that can be stationed close to many crisis zones, wherever they should unexpectedly flare-up."

The coalition Government has recently taken all Harrier jets out of service and announced the scrapping of the carrier HMS Ark Royal.

Drawing comparisons with saving HMS Invincible from disposal. Ark Royal's sister ship, shortly before the Falklands crisis, the UKIP MEP added: "HMS Invincible was reprieved because the Government of the day quickly realised the key role carriers play in a task force, away from home, with limited airbases."

"Although it was a policy reversal, it didn't seem to do Mrs Thatcher any harm in the subsequent election."

"I appeal to David Cameron to gracefully accept that the lessons of real politics outdo theoretical savings, and reprieve HMS Ark Royal with at least a minimum number of harriers.

"For the sake of Britain, the PM should reverse direction on the fate of this great ship."