Newcastle Liberal Democrats welcome Armed Forces Day event in the city

Armed Forces Day takes place on Saturday 27 June and Newcastle City Council is inviting residents from across the city to come together to mark Armed Forces Day and to show their support for serving military personnel, veterans and cadets.

Liberal Democrat Councillor for Castle Ward, David Down, who is Newcastle City Council’s Armed Forces Champion, said: 

“Armed Forces Day is an important opportunity for our city to come together and recognise the courage, dedication and sacrifice of those who serve, or have served, in our armed forces.

“Newcastle has a long and proud history of support for the armed forces community, and I hope residents will come along and join us for what promises to be a moving and uplifting event.”

The event begins at 10am at the Civic Centre and more information can be found on the Newcastle City Council's website. 

Liberal Democrats recognise the importance of our armed forces and the need to invest in defence in a more uncertain world.

Earlier this year, Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey called on the Government to issue defence bonds, open to the public, to raise billions in investment to modernise Britain’s armed forces. He said the government should start selling war bonds as there is a need to "move far faster" on UK defence spending.

The country faced a “once-in-a-generation” security threat - with Donald Trump undermining NATO from within and Vladimir Putin continuing his brutal war in Ukraine, said Sir Ed. He called for a collective, patriotic effort to urgently boost defence spending and reduce the UK’s reliance on an increasingly erratic US President.

The Defence Bonds would echo the “war bonds” issued during the First and Second World Wars, giving members of the public an opportunity to invest directly in Britain’s defence as part of a collective national effort.

The Liberal Democrats said the bonds could raise up to £20 billion for capital spending on defence over the next two years, including new military equipment and other major assets, helping to rebuild the Armed Forces after years of being hollowed out by the Conservatives.

For more details of the party's war bonds plan and Ed Davey's comments on the policy, see the full press release.