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The UK nuclear deterrent has become after the NHS a political commitment for both Tory and Labour PMs to show their metal. But an earlier Tory PM, Harold Macmillan had his doubts as did Sir Winston Churchill.
Macmillan got on well with the new young US President. Kennedy for his part saw the UK and French nuclear deterrents as "dangerous distractions".
The worsening state of the UK economy in the early 60s and the need to deliver the Tory vote "you've never had it so good" led to the most radical rethink of British defence policy since.World War Two.
Difficult defence programmes ranging from the Army's Blue Water and the RAF's TSR2 and Skybolt to the RN's CVA01 aircraft carrier were slashed in the now infamous "Day of the Long Knives".
The RAF V Bombers would go over to a purely conventional role from 1965.
Britain would only retain US supplied nuclear weapons for its maritime patrol aircraft and P1154 tactical aircraft to be based in West Germany. The US supplied Thor missiles would be withdrawn by 1964.
Macmillan's "Winds of Change" speech delivered on a visit to Singapore committed the UK to withdraw from East of Suez and its remaining commitments in Africa and the Middle East by 1968.
The massive savings in the Defence Budget came just in time to allow investment in Industry, Infrastructure, Health and Education.
Macmillan's successor RAB Butler went on to win the 1964 General Election from Harold Wilson's.Labour. In his memoirs Wilson wrote "typical bloody Tories pinched all our best tunes".
Macmillan got on well with the new young US President. Kennedy for his part saw the UK and French nuclear deterrents as "dangerous distractions".
The worsening state of the UK economy in the early 60s and the need to deliver the Tory vote "you've never had it so good" led to the most radical rethink of British defence policy since.World War Two.
Difficult defence programmes ranging from the Army's Blue Water and the RAF's TSR2 and Skybolt to the RN's CVA01 aircraft carrier were slashed in the now infamous "Day of the Long Knives".
The RAF V Bombers would go over to a purely conventional role from 1965.
Britain would only retain US supplied nuclear weapons for its maritime patrol aircraft and P1154 tactical aircraft to be based in West Germany. The US supplied Thor missiles would be withdrawn by 1964.
Macmillan's "Winds of Change" speech delivered on a visit to Singapore committed the UK to withdraw from East of Suez and its remaining commitments in Africa and the Middle East by 1968.
The massive savings in the Defence Budget came just in time to allow investment in Industry, Infrastructure, Health and Education.
Macmillan's successor RAB Butler went on to win the 1964 General Election from Harold Wilson's.Labour. In his memoirs Wilson wrote "typical bloody Tories pinched all our best tunes".