Watch RUSI Director Professor Michael Clarke, and RUSI's Director of Military Sciences, Michael Codner, offer their assessment on the defence and security issues that may be raised either prior to or immediately after the UK General Election.

Part Seven: In the final installment of these interviews, General Sir Mike Jackson, former Chief of the General Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Brian Burridge, former commander of British forces during Operation Telic and Rear Admiral Chris Parry, former Director General, Development, Concepts & Doctrine, offer their headline advice to an incoming government.

Part Six: General Sir Mike Jackson, Air Chief Marshal Sir Brian Burridge and Rear Admiral Chris Parry discuss the nexus between political debate and the consensus on the Armed Forces. 

Part Five: Continuing their interview, General Sir Mike Jackson, Air Chief Marshal Sir Brian Burridge and Rear Admiral Chris Parry outline what the defence spending priorities should be for an incoming government on 6 May. 

Part Four: Continuing their interview, General Sir Mike Jackson, Air Chief Marshal Sir Brian Burridge and Rear Admiral Chris Parry explore what commitments any government will have to caring for our service men and women.

Part Three: Ahead of the British elections on 6 May, senior former military leaders give their assessment of the issues facing defence and security. In this interview, General Sir Mike Jackson, Air Chief Marshal Sir Brian Burridge and Rear Admiral Chris Parry explore the public perception's to Britain's defence.

Part Two: Will the next government and the British public have the staying power to complete the job in Afghanistan? Ahead of the British elections on 6 May, senior former military leaders give their assessment of the issues facing defence and security. General Sir Mike Jackson, Air Chief Marshal Sir Brian Burridge and Rear Admiral Chris Parry take part in the interview.

Part One: Ahead of the British elections on 6 May, senior former military leaders give their assessment of the issues facing defence and security. General Sir Mike Jackson, Air Chief Marshal Sir Brian Burridge and Rear Admiral Chris Parry take part in the interview.

The Rt Hon Bob Ainsworth, Secretary of State for Defence, outlined his party’s policy of defence in advance of the General Election and subsequent Strategic Defence Review.

Bob Ainsworth was appointed Secretary of State for Defence on 5 June 2009. A Coventry trade unionist and former local councillor with strong roots in the city, he was elected Member of Parliament for Coventry North East in 1992. He was a long serving Whip in both Opposition and Government before he was promoted to his first ministerial position after Peter Mandelson's second resignation in January 2001.

He served five months as junior minister in the Department for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, and after the General Election he was moved to the Home Office with responsibility for Anti-drugs Co-ordination and Organised Crime. In the reshuffle of June 2003, he returned to the Whips’ Office on promotion to Deputy Chief Whip. He served as Minister of State for the Armed Forces prior to his current appointment.