Recently in Defence Category

I WANT to change the names of some of our City's streets. But more about that a little later.

What's in a name? Certainly when it comes to the names of our streets and squares, quite a lot. But have you ever thought how Argyle Syreet, Sauchiehall Street and George Square and the others got their names?

As you would expect George Square was named after a George, but perhaps not the one you might have expected. It was named after King George III who was around almost two hundred years ago. Famously he lost America as a Colony and is best known to most people as the character in the movie, 'The Madness of King George'.

A SCHEME first launched by Labour five months ago has now been rolled out by the government across the UK.

Everyone will agree it is wrong that someone who has served in Afghanistan is expected to join the back of the queue at the local job centre. With thousands being sacked during the recession, this government's actions are making things harder for UK veterans.

But the expansion of Labour's scheme - the Veterans' Interview Programme (VIP) - based on co-operation between myself and ministers, could make a real difference.

THE independence referendum campaign has kicked off and at last the debates are beginning to take shape.

Defence is one of the most important elements of this campaign. For Scotland to remain safe and prosperous a strong role in the UK is vital.

These are big issues and we need to have certainty before we vote. But at the moment the SNP aren't giving us any answers to the big questions.

AS I said on Monday at the Labour Conference what an incredible summer we had.

We all have our favourite moment from the summer of sport and London 2012, but I want to start by thanking a group who performed brilliantly this summer.

Some of them with the dust of Afghanistan still in their boots. Men and women with a quiet humility and a pride in their country. We should thank the 17,000 members of the UK Armed Forces who served so that in safety the athletes could compete and we could celebrate.

EVERY day around the world, 1500 people are killed in armed violence and a much greater number are maimed, permanently disabled and tortured.

The fact that there is currently no agreed global regulations for the arms trade means that a very high number of the weapons used in such atrocities are obtained illegally.

Over the last few years, there have been lengthy negotiations to resolve this scandal. But despite a promising start, and agreement from the majority of attending nations, last month's United Nations Conference in New York did not reach a consensus for a global Arms Trade Treaty (ATT).

LABOUR wants to get more of our veterans who are leaving the Armed Forces in to work.

Thousands are being sacked at a time of deep recession and we all have a duty to offer them high levels of care and support.
 
Last week Labour launched a new scheme, the Veterans' Interview Programme (VIP), in which companies voluntarily agree to provide job-seeking ex-Forces with additional help finding work, including guaranteeing an interview and training days specifically for veterans. 

GLASGOW used to make a third of all the ships in the world but much has changed.

The Clyde has been succeeded by South Korea's Port Ulsan, where a vessel is completed every four days. But we still build ships and there are reasons to be proud.

Right now, on the Clyde and in Rosyth in Fife, thousands of men and women are building two enormous aircraft carriers - each three times longer than a football pitch.

Other countries wanted the contract but the previous Labour government were clear we wanted to build these ships at home.