Britain is at a crossroads. As weleave the EU, we face a great challenge and also the opportunity to forge a newidentity in an increasingly uncertain world. Our Armed Forces will be criticalto our power and prosperity.

For centuries, they have been theenvy of the world. Now barely a day passes without reports of diminishingprowess. The number of Navy workhorse ships has been halved and the Armyreduced to its smallest size since the Napoleonic war. Our spectacular newaircraft carriers and the F-35 fighter jet programme are mired in controversy.Meanwhile, the Armed Forces face questions about their purpose. The bitterexperiences of Iraq and Afghanistan have undermined the concept of the militaryas a 'force for good.' Voters are now sceptical of discretionary wars infaraway places. Aside from sporadic jihadi attacks, few believe there is any realthreat to our way of life.