Britain could be plunged into darkness and economic ruin by just 62 explosions targeting undersea cables, Tobias Ellwood has warned. The former minister and Conservative MP told Express.co.uk that the nation's critical infrastructure is dangerously exposed.
Vulnerability of Undersea Cables
Mr Ellwood stated: “We have 62 undersea cables linking Britain, bringing in the majority of our data and much of our energy resources. We are 62 explosions away from Britain being absolutely crippled with no lights, electricity, or water. There would be a massive cascade effect because all these things are now digitally interlinked.”
He drew a parallel with a disaster in the US: “We saw a version of this in Texas a decade ago during a natural disaster; the gas lines froze, which affected electricity, which then knocked out the water systems, and hundreds of people died.”
Immediate Threats and Defence Shortfalls
Mr Ellwood emphasised that the threats are already present: “The threats are already here: cyberattacks, challenges to undersea cables, and grey-zone warfare that we are completely unprepared for.”
He criticised the recent defence investment plan, saying: “It is good that the recent defence investment plan shunted us toward modernisation by harnessing unmanned, semi-autonomous, and autonomous warfare, but we are doing it on the cheap.”
Funding and Public Support
Mr Ellwood called for reallocating funds from welfare and pensions: “There is money to be found in the welfare budget. The same applies to pensions if we are honest about the triple lock.”
He argued that public support could be secured: “If political leaders were to get into a room, put the nation's interests first, and agree to ring-fence that funding... the nation would support a modicum increase. Especially if it is explained that without doing so, our economy will be hit and targeted.”
Complacency and a New Book
Mr Ellwood warned of complacency: “This isn't about fighting land wars afar; this is about being attacked at home where our economy suffers.”
In his 2026 book Ten Steps to Prevent World War 3, Mr Ellwood urges spotting new battlefields, moving to a war footing, and rebuilding resilience. The book warns that without action, the global order will fragment further into proxy conflicts and economic coercion.
