Andy Burnham must operate "almost like a wartime Prime Minister" if he becomes Prime Minister, the former head of the armed forces has warned. Admiral Sir Tony Radakin, who retired last year as Chief of the Defence Staff, piled pressure on the incoming PM to meet Keir Starmer's promise to boost defence spending. He said Mr Burnham would need to apply a "Moscow test" to his policies, echoing his pledge to use a "Makerfield test" for decisions affecting his North West constituency.
Defence Investment Plan and Funding Crisis
The warning comes as the Government prepares to publish the long-delayed defence investment plan (Dip), one of Mr Starmer's final acts as PM. New Defence Secretary Dan Jarvis has been locked in talks over the crisis-hit plan after his predecessor John Healey and Armed Forces Minister Al Carns both quit in an explosive row over funding. Mr Burnham is said to have signed off on the Dip, which Mr Starmer promised would be published before a crucial Nato summit in July.
The Defence Secretary is believed to have secured an additional £1 billion for the plan, taking total funding closer to £15 billion over the next four years. However, this falls well below the £28 billion military chiefs believe is needed to get Britain war-fighting ready. The UK Commando Force will receive a £500 million boost as part of the changes, with high-speed boats and strike drones committed to the elite force.
Radakin's 'Moscow Test' and Warning on Capabilities
Sir Tony said the next PM must fulfil Mr Starmer's pledge to hike defence spending to 3.5% of GDP by 2035, warning that Britain's military capabilities are "too bare." In a message to Mr Burnham, he told the BBC: "As well as having the Makerfield test, I would say it's the Moscow test. What do we look like to Moscow? Do we look like a strong member of the Nato alliance? Do we look like a strong nuclear power? Do we look like a strong ally of America? Because those are the elements that keep us safe."
Asked what his message to Mr Burnham would be if he became PM, Sir Tony said: "It is keep our country safe, acknowledge that you have this extraordinary responsibility - so you're almost like a wartime prime minister at the moment. And that means you need to invest in what really keeps us safe."
Impact on Nato and US Relations
The former military chief said the current level of defence spending risked falling "short on those commitments - and then that creates a whole load of hurt with our Nato allies and especially our relationship with America." He added: "We've been very clear in saying that we need to strengthen our armed forces. It means additional money for day to day operations. That is stores. That is maintenance. That's how you get those ships out. That's how your aircraft are available for operations. That's how your tanks and armoured fighting vehicles are available. All of that at the moment is too bare."
Andy Burnham is expected to become Prime Minister within weeks, and the defence investment plan is seen as a critical test of his leadership on national security.
