UK Defence Forum
Encyclopedia
The UK Defence Forum exists to enable politician
s, industrialists, members of the armed forces
, academics and others with an interest in defence
and security
issues to exchange information and views on the future needs of Britain's defence and security.
Put at its simplest, the Forum looks at where future wars may break out or threats evolve, why, and what the UK should do about it, and how the nation and its industry would be affected. The Forum represents an opportunity for politicians , including those in Government and Opposition, to meet people from relevant diverse backgrounds and to exchange information with them and others interested in defence and security. It holds no corporate view of its own, meetings are held under the Chatham House Rule
, and there is a strict "no lobbying" policy. Papers are delivered by academics, military, diplomats, politicians, civil servants or industrialists. From the point of view of politicians, they are able to obtain insights into matters of concern to them and to question a wide range of experts privately. The U K Defence Forum was urged by former Prime Minister Blair to "think the unthinkable". Some papers after moderating are placed in the public domain. Other papers are published in writing and on the website (with a general public domain release of 3 years after first publication). The website also hosts the Tim Garden Archives and EURODEFENSE UK archives. The U K Defence Forum runs an annual Tim Garden Essay Competition. The UKDF produces Defence Viewpoints, with articles, opinion pieces and news with a national and international perspective which is updated daily, and which has a comment and contribution facility. Defence Viewpoints also contains links to blogs in USA, Russia, China, India and others. It contains a feed from TwitterDefence Red Box
The UK Defence Forum meets on a regular basis in London
: meetings are attended by invited politicians, academics, senior industrialists, and others. The Forum is a non-partisan, not-for-profit organisation, based in Newcastle upon Tyne
.
The Forum's patron
s include The Rt Hon Dr David Clark, Baron Clark of Windermere
, The Rt Hon Menzies Campbell
CBE
QC
MP, The Rt Hon Tom King, Baron King of Bridgwater
, and General Charles Guthrie, Baron Guthrie of Craigiebank
GCB
OBE
.
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
s, industrialists, members of the armed forces
Armed forces
The armed forces of a country are its government-sponsored defense, fighting forces, and organizations. They exist to further the foreign and domestic policies of their governing body, and to defend that body and the nation it represents from external aggressors. In some countries paramilitary...
, academics and others with an interest in defence
National security
National security is the requirement to maintain the survival of the state through the use of economic, diplomacy, power projection and political power. The concept developed mostly in the United States of America after World War II...
and security
Security
Security is the degree of protection against danger, damage, loss, and crime. Security as a form of protection are structures and processes that provide or improve security as a condition. The Institute for Security and Open Methodologies in the OSSTMM 3 defines security as "a form of protection...
issues to exchange information and views on the future needs of Britain's defence and security.
Put at its simplest, the Forum looks at where future wars may break out or threats evolve, why, and what the UK should do about it, and how the nation and its industry would be affected. The Forum represents an opportunity for politicians , including those in Government and Opposition, to meet people from relevant diverse backgrounds and to exchange information with them and others interested in defence and security. It holds no corporate view of its own, meetings are held under the Chatham House Rule
Chatham House Rule
The Chatham House Rule is a core principle that governs the confidentiality of the source of information received at a meeting. Since its refinement in 2002, the rule states:...
, and there is a strict "no lobbying" policy. Papers are delivered by academics, military, diplomats, politicians, civil servants or industrialists. From the point of view of politicians, they are able to obtain insights into matters of concern to them and to question a wide range of experts privately. The U K Defence Forum was urged by former Prime Minister Blair to "think the unthinkable". Some papers after moderating are placed in the public domain. Other papers are published in writing and on the website (with a general public domain release of 3 years after first publication). The website also hosts the Tim Garden Archives and EURODEFENSE UK archives. The U K Defence Forum runs an annual Tim Garden Essay Competition. The UKDF produces Defence Viewpoints, with articles, opinion pieces and news with a national and international perspective which is updated daily, and which has a comment and contribution facility. Defence Viewpoints also contains links to blogs in USA, Russia, China, India and others. It contains a feed from TwitterDefence Red Box
The UK Defence Forum meets on a regular basis in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
: meetings are attended by invited politicians, academics, senior industrialists, and others. The Forum is a non-partisan, not-for-profit organisation, based in Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne is a city and metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear, in North East England. Historically a part of Northumberland, it is situated on the north bank of the River Tyne...
.
The Forum's patron
Patrón
Patrón is a luxury brand of tequila produced in Mexico and sold in hand-blown, individually numbered bottles.Made entirely from Blue Agave "piñas" , Patrón comes in five varieties: Silver, Añejo, Reposado, Gran Patrón Platinum and Gran Patrón Burdeos. Patrón also sells a tequila-coffee blend known...
s include The Rt Hon Dr David Clark, Baron Clark of Windermere
David Clark, Baron Clark of Windermere
David George Clark, Baron Clark of Windermere PC DL is a British Labour politician, former cabinet minister and author.-Education and early career:...
, The Rt Hon Menzies Campbell
Menzies Campbell
Sir Walter Menzies "Ming" Campbell, CBE, QC, MP is a British Liberal Democrat politician and advocate, and a retired sprinter. He is the Member of Parliament for North East Fife, and was the Leader of the Liberal Democrats from 2 March 2006 until 15 October 2007.Campbell held the British record...
CBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
QC
Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel , known as King's Counsel during the reign of a male sovereign, are lawyers appointed by letters patent to be one of Her [or His] Majesty's Counsel learned in the law...
MP, The Rt Hon Tom King, Baron King of Bridgwater
Tom King, Baron King of Bridgwater
Thomas Jeremy King, Baron King of Bridgwater, CH, PC , is a British politician. A member of the Conservative Party, he served in the Cabinet from 1983–92, and was the Member of Parliament for the constituency of Bridgwater in Somerset from 1970-2001...
, and General Charles Guthrie, Baron Guthrie of Craigiebank
Charles Guthrie, Baron Guthrie of Craigiebank
General Charles Ronald Llewelyn Guthrie, Baron Guthrie of Craigiebank, was Chief of the Defence Staff between 1997 and 2001 and Chief of the General Staff, the professional head of the British Army, between 1994 and 1997.-Army career:...
GCB
Order of the Bath
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath...
OBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
.
External links
- UK Defence Forum Home of the U K Defence Forum featuring papers and meetings programme