Peace Through Ukrainian Victory - First Posted 24 Feb 2025

 Putin had peace, and he chose war. 

Putin chose to murder and terrorise innocent men, women and children. He chose to bomb schools and children's hospitals, and to send murderers and rapists into the homes of the peaceful, of the hopeful.

Putin's war was never just a war against Ukraine, but against the very ideas of freedom, sovereignty and choice. Against democracy, liberty and international order. Not only in Ukraine, but to everybody watching.

Be grateful that brave Ukraine continues to stand fast, holding Putin's terror machine within its own borders, because Putin does not recognise those borders and will continue westward if Europe allows him.

Putin does not want peace. If he wanted it, he would have kept it. He wants expansion of his territory, ideals and power. Putin does not respect you, and every sign of your weakness is an opportunity he will seize. In 2018 Putin deployed a chemical weapon on the streets of the United Kingdom. How foolish must one be, to believe he will respect your children's lives.

So send your best cowards to sue for peace. Send your infantile, verbally incontinent US President to bend the knee. Send Farage suckling desperately at his teat, for every drop of validation. Send Orban and Le Pen. Let them wave their piece of paper before the world. 

It will not buy you a peaceful sleep. It will reward Putin for his terrorism, and it will send him a clear message: that slaughter is a prosperous endeavour. Putin will rearm and then redouble, safe in the knowledge that neither NATO, nor Europe has the courage to stand up for their neighbours. Your piece of paper will wither under artillery as did Chamberlain's in 1939. 

Xinping is listening.

Europe must now come together as never before, operating as though a single, unified state: diplomatically, economically, defensively. With or without the United States, the United Kingdom must take its place at the table. Canada, Australia and New Zealand must be welcomed.

In 1945, the world came together to destroy Hitler's industrial murder machine. He died broken and afraid in Berlin. 

The cost was over 70 million lives.

You may yet have your peace for our time, but it will only last with Putin unseated, or with Ukraine as a member of NATO.

Cam.

The Future of UK/US Relations Following the US Election - First Posted 9 Nov 2024

 Throughout my military career, and already in my role as a UK Member of Parliament, I have had the privilege to work alongside our brothers and sisters from the United States. From Exercising with the US Air Force in South Carolina, to operating alongside US Forces in Iraq and across the United States, to training with them here in the UK, I have always regarded them more closely than allies, rather as friends. 

I use the term brothers and sisters sincerely: Our forebears stood together – along with our European and Commonwealth allies – to defeat fascism and tyranny in the 20th Century. D-Day, so heavy in the minds of Americans and British alike, was planned and executed collaboratively from the South Coast of the UK.

The friendship and alignment of our two nations prevailed despite the debacle of the Suez Crisis in 1956, and through the frictions caused by the Falklands Conflict in 1982. Despite conflicting interests, US authority to use its airfield on Ascension Island enabled Britain to liberate the Falkland Islands. Our relationship continues regardless of our respective heads of state, bound by the strongest diplomatic, economic and military ties, and by intelligence shared right here in Gloucestershire.  

Millions of people across the world will have met the result of the US presidential election this week with fear and doubt. Will the President Elect continue to support Ukraine against Russia’s invasion, or surrender under pressure from Putin? Will he continue support to or even maintain US membership of NATO, and will he honour the US’ commitment to Article 5, should a NATO member be attacked? What will be his impact on the UK economy? What does this result mean for the climate emergency and the global transition away from fossil fuels? 

Whatever the answers, our role in the UK will be to continue to work closely with the US toward our shared goals, British interests and those of our allies. 

Wherever the US may withdraw its leadership or investment, lies an opportunity for the UK and our European neighbours to fill that void. The most urgent contingency must be a meeting with NATO and European allies to prepare to support Ukraine regardless of the President Elect’s position. 

Here in the UK, the Liberal Democrats and I will continue to resolutely and vocally promote our liberal values of democracy, humanity, dignity and empathy.

Cam.

Straight Faced Support - First Posted 9 May 2024

 Since I confirmed my candidacy for the coming General Election, every word of encouragement and every testimony to my character has helped me to bear up to the challenge ahead. I am grateful for, and humbled by each of them, and those which have come from my serving brothers and sisters carry a special weight. In the Armed Forces, support generally comes dressed as varying degrees of banter, so when the message comes 'straight-faced', you know it's sincere.

The expeditionary lifestyle of the Armed Forces isn't for everybody, but it throws up a great many fleeting friendships, some lifelong friendships, and many of those people you're grateful to cross paths with down the years.

I met 'M' while living in Cyprus around 2006 or 2007. On a Venn diagram of our social groups, we just about overlapped.

I left Cyprus in 2008 and the next time we met, M and I were deployed together in the Falkland Islands for a few months in 2011. As an Acting Sergeant, he was senior to me, and I came to know him as supremely professional, up-front, humble but resolute. We worked and socialised in small groups for those few months and though we weren't exactly 'close', I liked and respected him.

After I left the Falkland Islands, we lost contact until a chance meeting in 2023, when M attended a Focus Group I led with the RAF Climate Assessment Support Team. He offered me back to his office later to catch up, so I went to find him, and we did. Amongst other chatter, I told him about my plan to stand at the General Election.

M got back in touch yesterday. He told me that I'd started him thinking about politics. Like me, he recognised that the country needs change. He'd done some research and had then voted for the Liberal Democrats in the recent local elections... and will do so again at the General Election. He signed off telling me I'll "do great" for my community "and hopefully, the country", and that he was proud to have served with me. Honestly, I've always thought him to be the better of us.

If you're reading this M: it means a great deal to me, and it was an honour to have served with you too.

To a better future.

Cam.