 I grew up in a working class household and I remember in 1979 my Dad explaining why he voted Labour, because they represented people like him. Over the next few years I questioned this and drifted towards the Tories, initially over the nuclear deterrent issue but increasingly as I found I agreed with the Conservative approach on many other issues. Still I was reluctant to declare myself a Tory throughout these years. All this changed in 1982 when a Conservative Government showed what good leadership and iron resolve, backed up by our armed forces could achieve.
The Falklands War was not only the point at which Britain stopped being a nation in retreat, but it also marked the point at which I ‘came out’ and declared I was a Conservative. It is for this reason that the memory of those 14 weeks has a special significance for me.
Now, nearly 30 years later, trouble is brewing in the South Atlantic again. Argentina has imposed a virtual blockade on the islands and yesterday William Hague called for an increased Royal Navy presence in the area. Once again we turn to our Navy and once again it proves the importance of us maintaining a balanced fleet with submarines, carrier strike groups and amphibious forces. At a time when some have been arguing we do not need these forces, and we would never need to mount a Falklands style operation again by ourselves, along comes a situation which if left unchecked would require us to do just that. SDR planners take note!
I truly hope that Argentina takes note and pulls back from escalating this situation, and the problem is like a similar one in the mid 70’s which was solved by the despatch of a nuclear submarine as a show of force. However, be under no illusions, I believe the Falklands should remain British for as long as the people wish so and I fully support William’s call yesterday.
PS. The ship picture in the Express article is a Bay class landing ship, not HMS Clyde. The picture attached to this is elements of the Taskforce at sea: County class Destroyer, T42 Destroyer, Type 21 Frigate and a Leander class frigate in the background.
http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/158879/Plea-for-Navy-to-break-Argentine-Falklands-siege- | 
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