The General Election and the next Strategic Defence and Security Review

During a General Election campaign, political parties make different proposals for the direction of national policy across a broad range of issues, including defence and security. But what is the national strategic context in which these proposals are made?

Since 2010, the UK has conducted a Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR) every five years. On this timetable, the next SDSR should be conducted in 2020, but what challenges will it face and how should it meet them?

This is a panel discussion event to explore these issues, chaired by Professor John Gearson, Director of the Centre for Defence Studies at King’s College London. The distinguished panel includes former defence and security practitioners who will reflect on the lessons that can be learned from the conduct of previous defence and security reviews. The panel discussion will be followed by a Question and Answer (Q&A) session with the audience.

The panel includes: Lord (Peter) Ricketts, visiting professor at King’s College London and formerly the first ever UK National Security Adviser (2010-12), Will Jessett CBE, visiting professor at King’s College London and former Director for Strategic Planning at the Ministry of Defence and Margaret Aldred CB CBE, former deputy head of the Cabinet Office and Overseas Secretariat of the Iraq Inquiry.