A Conservative Party View of UK Defence Policy

The Rt Hon Sir Malcolm Rifkind KCMG QC MP, Conservative Member of Parliament for Kensington and Chelsea, outlined his party’s policy of defence in advance of the General Election and subsequent Strategic Defence Review.
Sir Malcolm Rifkind was elected as MP for Pentlands in 1974 and represented that constituency until 1997. He became a member of the Cabinet in 1986 as Secretary of State for Scotland. In 1990 he became Secretary of State for Transport and in 1992 Secretary of State for Defence. From 1995 to 1997 he was Foreign Secretary. He served as the Shadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions and Welfare Reform until December 2005 when he chose to return to the backbenches. He has been selected to fight the new Kensington constituency at the next General Election.He has also been active in a number of voluntary organisations. Sir Malcolm is a member of the Dulverton Trust, a Vice President of Combat Stress and a Patron of Raleigh International. He has served on the Court of Edinburgh University and is an honorary colonel. He is also a member of the Queen's Bodyguard of the Royal Company of Archers.