LONDON -- Britain’s Conservative Party has expressed its determination to hold a Strategic Defense Review, while fencing off the country’s submarine-based nuclear deterrent.

Liam Fox, the shadow defense secretary, told the party conference Oct. 8 that the party would immediately launch a review were it to be elected. National elections in the U.K. need to be held no later than the end of May 2010. The Conservatives are well ahead of the ruling Labour Party in opinion polls.

Laying out a step-by-step approach, Fox said: “First it will define Britain’s strategic interests and where they exist at home and abroad. Secondly, it will then assess the threats to those interests as far as we can reasonably predict them. Third, we can then determine the military capabilities we need to protect our interests. Then, fourth, can we look at specific programs and the shape of the Armed Forces we need.”

His final point was that the review will need to reflect “the budgetary constraints within which we will have to operate.”

British defense expenditures are under severe pressure as a result of procurement costs and the war in Afghanistan. The global economic turmoil has simply compounded the problem for London.

Fox stayed well away from identifying any big ticket procurements that could come under scrutiny as part of a review. He did, however, reiterate that the Conservatives intend to slash civil service staff within the Defense Ministry.

“Now we have 99,000 in the Army and 85,000 civilians in the MoD [Defense Ministry]. Some things will have to change, and believe me, they will,” Fox said.

Meanwhile, British Army Gen. Richard Dannatt -- who has proved a thorn in the side of the current Labour Government -- could become a member of a future Conservative government. Dannatt was head of the British Army until August.

Conservative party leader David Cameron said Dannatt “will join our benches in the House of Lords and if we win the election could serve in a future Conservative Government.” Dannatt is to advise the Conservatives on defense issues.

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