David Cameron: We will think very carefully before sending British troops to war

12 April 2012

Soldiers could be deployed more readily on Britain's streets under a Tory homeland security shake-up.

However, David Cameron promised that a Tory government would think "much more carefully" before sending British troops to war.

In what he claimed was the most radical reforms in security policy for decades, the Tory leader announced plans to use the overseas aid budget to partly fund a new stabilisation and reconstruction force for war-ravaged countries.

But questions remained over how the changes would be funded as security budgets at the Ministry of Defence, Home Office and Foreign Office would not be ring-fenced.

Under the plans, a new permanent, military headquarters for homeland defence and security would be set up. Armed forces would be allocated for homeland security tasks such as dealing with floods and other emergencies.

But criticising Labour over the Iraq "dodgy dossier", Mr Cameron added: "We've got to think through much more carefully whether Britain should get involved in a foreign conflict, and if so, how to cope with the consequences.

"And then if we do intervene and send troops to fight in a foreign country, there should be a proper reconstruction force ready and waiting to deliver a stabilisation strategy." The national security document A Resilient Nation was launched in central London.

Cabinet minister Peter Hain has hit out at Tony Blair and admitted that he was kept in the dark over letters pledging support for George Bush over Iraq. The Welsh Secretary revealed that he was one of several in the Cabinet who did not know of the "notes" sent by Mr Blair.

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