The main parties have still not published their manifestos in full. But there is little that they have not already told the voters about the policies they would implement if they were to win the election. This is what the main parties are offering regarding international policies.

TERRORISM

LABOR: Take a tough line on suspects. Special control orders will be granted by judges to detain suspects in their homes, or place them under strict supervision, limiting their areas of work. Work closely with America and the European Union on anti-terror measures. Improve the way intelligence is used and assessed within government.

CONSERVATIVE: A Minister for Homeland Security would be appointed to coordinate all the government’s antiterrorist activities. A new force, the British Border Control Police, would be set up take charge of controlling entry at ports and airports.

LIBERAL DEMOCRAT: Establish National Border Force on same lines as Conservative plans for a new border police. Allow use of intercept communications in court. Have a Cabinet-level post to oversee both anti-terror responses in the event of an attack and to coordinate responses of fire, police, and ambulance services. Work globally to meet terror threat.

INTERNATIONAL AID

LABOR: Raise spending to U.N. target by 2013. Move to convince other Western nations to back plans to write off debt of poorest countries. Take a lead in buying up for diseases such as malaria in order to create a viable market for them and encourage future research.

CONSERVATIVE: Would increase spending on international aid in line with Labor’s plans. Would work toward meeting the U.N. target of spending 0.7% of national income on aid by 2013. More resources devoted to priority areas. Would push the reduction of E.U. agricultural tariffs and export subsidies.

LIBERAL DEMOCRAT: Meet the 0.7% of GDP spent on overseas aid by 2012 and also reform urgently the Common Agricultural Policy, which currently dis courages production in underdeveloped countries. Press other nations to agree to write off debts of poorest countries.

WORLD AFFAIRS

LABOR: Retain the special relationship with America. Try to use this to serve as a bridge between America and the European Union. Push President Bush to live up to his commitment to strive for a settlement to the Israel-Palestine problem. Aim to begin phased withdrawal of British troops from Iraq next year and spread democracy throughout the Middle East.

CONSERVATIVE: Priority would be to safeguard and advance the British national interest. Would work for partnership, not rivalry, between the E.U. and America. Would encourage democracy in Iraq. Would support the road map to peace in the Middle East. Opposed to the lifting of the E.U. embargo on arms exports to China.

LIBERAL DEMOCRAT: Accept that Britain has a moral obligation to the Iraqi people to work toward a secure, stable, and democratic Iraq, despite the original invasion being wrong. The British Government should produce an exit strategy providing for troop withdrawal in line with the U.N. mandate, which expires at the end of the year. Seek more balanced relationship between Britain and America, and greater British involvement in U.N., E.U., and other international bodies.

DEFENSE

LABOR: Press ahead with Army restructuring plans to reduce the number of battalions by four and merge or abolish some historic regiments, as part of wider plans to create a more up-to-date, flexible army.

CONSERVATIVE: A Conservative Government would spend more on frontline defense than the amount planned by Labor. The regiments being lined up for abolition would be saved.

LIBERAL DEMOCRAT: Oppose cuts in troop numbers and keep historic regiments threatened by Labor. But support reform of Armed Forces to achieve greater flexibility and capability. Invest more in frontline services and welfare of troops. Achieve greater coordination of capability with European and NATO allies.