Minister of State for Defence Readiness and Industry Luke Pollard has criticised the Conservatives' pledge to build a £10bn missile defence system similar to Israel's 'Iron Dome', warning that if the party is going to make such a promise, it should ensure the result is not an 'iron colander'.
Writing for The Mirror, Pollard said the world is getting more dangerous, with war raging in Europe and missiles and drones changing the battlefield. He argued that Britain needs stronger defences, but that the Tories' announcement deserves proper scrutiny.
Announcement 'falling apart'
Pollard questioned whether a ready-made, bargain basement Iron Dome could exist for £10bn, and said the sums do not stack up. He noted that the announcement started falling apart almost as soon as it was made, with Kemi Badenoch later saying the plan was not an Iron Dome, despite her own party's press release calling it exactly that.
He said that while Badenoch often talks about approaching politics like an engineer, an engineer would normally be expected to know what they are building. He acknowledged that Badenoch admitted she was 'not a defence expert', but said people might expect her to know what her own party is proposing.
Labour's defence investment
Pollard said Labour is investing in better air and missile defences, including doubling the Army's Sky Sabre systems, putting money into longer range air and missile defence, and strengthening counter drone technology and Royal Navy air defence.
He said Labour inherited Armed Forces that had been hollowed out after 14 years of Tory government, with recruitment in crisis, morale falling and major equipment programmes left in a mess. He added that defence spending is rising, recruitment is improving, and the party will set out its path to spending 3 per cent of GDP on defence, and then 3.5 per cent.
'Fantasy figures and gimmicks'
Pollard concluded that the Tories had 14 years to get defence right, and now want the public to believe they can fix it with one press release that does not survive contact with reality. He said Britain needs stronger defences and serious investment, not fantasy figures and gimmicks.
