No issue is more important than the security of the nation and the defence of its people. Britain has for the past decade faced numerous threats, primarily the danger posed by Islamic militants intent on attacking mainland Britain or British interests and citizens abroad.
Huge resources have been spent on strengthening our defences. Our security and intelligence services have grown, thousands of troops have been deployed to stabilise failed states and prevent them becoming safe havens for terrorist groups such as al-Qaeda. Soft power has also been used to deliver assistance to sources of instability such as Pakistan and Yemen, where most attacks on Britain are planned.
These threats are familiar, but a host of others are emerging as potential problems. Iran is believed to be far advanced in acquiring the capability to build a nuclear weapon. It is also making great strides in developing missiles that can hit targets across the Middle East and, perhaps one day, Europe. The result could mean a major conflict in one of the world’s most strategic regions.
North Korea demonstrated after the sinking of a South Korean corvette that it is also a threat to regional stability. The Korean War may have ended nearly 60 years ago but peace remains elusive on the Korean Peninsula.
Arguably the most dangerous threat we face is the use of weapons of mass destruction. London had a taste of the chaos that it could create after the murder of Alexander Litvinenko, the Russian dissident who was killed in 2006 by polonium-210, a deadly radioactive isotope used as a poison by suspected Kremlin agents.
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Britain cannot possibly meet all these challenges on its own. Its strong ties with the US and institutions such as Nato remain the bedrock of its security. But meeting its international obligations and safeguarding its people is a costly business. With limited resources it must choose its priorities and make every penny count.