Lord King of Bridgwater writes for ePolitix.com ahead of his debate in the House of Lords on the UK's national security strategy.
This afternoon the House of Lords will debate the UK's national security strategy. There is general acceptance of the need for a comprehensive and overarching strategy but what is less clear is the value it currently adds to departments and agencies and, therefore, the country.
Like many other government initiatives which may have been good in principle, the problem lies in delivery. A particular criticism of the strategy by expert commentators, parliamentary select committees and even senior officials is that it does not prioritise either the UK's interests or the risks to those interests. Nor does it allocate resources. As a result, its ability to direct and co-ordinate government activities is limited.
But at a time when the old distinction between home and abroad no longer holds, a truly fundamental cross-government approach to meeting the challenges faced by the UK is needed.
This requirement underpins the calls for a comprehensive strategic defence and security review to align capabilities and commitments to the diverse range of challenges this country faces. But there is a wider problem that needs to be addressed: Ultimately there has been a lack of positive leadership from the prime minister and an inability to effectively bring together the efforts of different departments to achieve combined effect.
That is why the Conservative Party's proposal for a proper National Security Council is to be welcomed. Some have asked what the difference between this proposed structure and the existing ministerial committee structure actually is; the importance lies not only in having greater clarity about roles, responsibilities and sources of advice to the minister to underpin collective decisions, but also in the cultural change it will promote and the forum it will provide for regular, active leadership in this area.
It is no exaggeration to say that the challenges to international security will only increase in the future. But no country will be taken seriously and be able to influence events around the world if it cannot look after itself.
Government needs to organise itself properly to provide effective leadership and vision and, in so doing, maintain a strong and secure position for the UK. That should be a key task of the national security strategy.
