In our 2011 article Armed Forces Trade Unions? we said, firstly, that based on many surveys and our own consultations with serving personnel, we did not consider that traditional trade union status was the appropriate format for an armed forces representative body. Secondly that in any case, armed forces representative bodies in other advanced countries don't go on strike, and this includes those which are registered trade unions.

Might this be about to change in at least some European countries? BAFF has learned that the Council of Europe has published (7 June 2019) a puzzling and unhelpful decision by its European Committee of Social Rights (ECSR) in a case brought against Italy relating to members of the Guardia di Finanza, a law enforcement agency which is "militarised" but does not come under the country's Ministry of Defence.

We are very grateful to Mr Herbert Möller for some beautiful photographs taken at the candlelit Arnhem Oosterbeek War Cemetery on Christmas Eve, 2018. This is one of his photos:

Defence is only one of the issues in the General Election on Thursday 8 June, but below are the defence policies set out in the various party manifestos, listed by us in alphabetical order and developed from a helpful compilation by the UKNDA. Click on any party name to see its manifesto policy on defence. Please use the site contact form to tell us about any corrections or additions.

BAFF already offers free basic professional legal advice for any BAFF full member approached by the Iraq Historic Allegations Team (IHAT) for an interview, even if apparently as a witness and not under caution. After consultation with the legal firm with whom we have this arrangement, BAFF is very pleased to confirm that this offer applies to all recent or current military operations, including the Op Northmoor inquiry (Afghanistan / Herrick).