A former head of the British Army has warned that Britain's national security and its place in NATO are now under threat after the government confirmed yet another delay to the long-overdue Defence Investment Plan (DIP). Speaking on the media yesterday morning, Cabinet Minister Pat McFadden revealed that the vital plans are still 'weeks' away from publication, despite being originally promised by Sir Keir Starmer for last autumn.
Military Leaders Sound Alarm
The latest update on the funding plan was met with dismay by two of Britain's most senior former military chiefs. General Sir Richard Dannatt, who served as Chief of the General Staff from 2006 to 2009, warned that the pushback poses a major risk to Britons' security. He told the Daily Mail: 'The continued delay to the publication of the Defence Investment Plan puts the security of our country and that of Europe through our membership of NATO at severe risk - a risk that increases with every week or month of delay.'
'How many more wake-up calls does this Government need before it exercises its first duty - to guarantee the security of our country - seriously? Our enemies smile at our weakness, and our friends shake their heads in sorrow. We need leadership now, an increase in Defence expenditure and a realisation that we are drinking in the last chance saloon. The cruel hand of history may call 'time' before we have woken from our disgraceful inertia.'
His warning was echoed by Admiral Lord Alan West, the former First Sea Lord, who told this paper that the fresh delay is 'extremely damaging' to Britain's defence. Lord West blasted: 'It's more than a year late now - it's ridiculous. And part of the reason, I'm afraid, is that the Prime Minister hasn't taken charge of the Chancellor and the Treasury. If he was showing himself to be a real leader - more of a leader actually than some of the people he's competing against for his job - he would say 'defence is so important, this has got to happen.''
Political Infighting Condemned
Lord West also condemned Labour's political infighting at a time of acute national crisis, adding: 'The thought of going for a leadership contest amongst all of this is absolutely bloody stupid. I have to say, one feels that some of these people who are contending, like the Mayor of Manchester, are lesser beings. They have forgotten they are meant to govern and look after our country. They've forgotten all about that. They're too busy doing self-publicity and arsing about. The last thing we need is a leadership contest, because the world is so dangerous.'
The crucial DIP will set out funding for Britain's depleted and overstretched armed forces over the next four years. It is expected that the government will find between £15 billion and £18 billion of additional spending for the military, following huge pressure piled on NATO countries by Donald Trump. The dither and delay have already had a brutal impact on Britain's defence production industry, with British companies forced to shut up shop or move overseas to secure funding.
Government Response
Yesterday, Mr McFadden denied that the government has been 'putting it off', instead claiming the delay is due to a desire to 'get this right'. He added: 'The point I want to make to you is that it's not like there's nothing happening at the moment. We sign contracts for equipment and material all the time.' However, last week the Daily Mail revealed that ministers have also been accused of delaying publication until after the Makerfield by-election on June 18, to avoid criticism of pending cuts to the Armed Forces, which will expose divisions within the government and Labour.
Former Defence Secretaries Speak Out
Two former Defence Secretaries also added their voices to the call for action. Dame Penny Mordaunt told the Mail: 'Every day of delay to the DIP is a day our armed forces and industrial base are set back in modernising defence against the already present threat. Our allies are rearming, joining up, building secure ways to share vital engineering and operational data. We aren't. The public gets this. The majority want more spent on defence and a greater focus on our own resilience. But the government seems incapable of acting.'
Sir Gavin Williamson added: 'It's becoming increasingly clear that the government is risking our defence and security in order to try and manage its MPs. For every month that's wasted where they do not come forward with these plans means that we are more vulnerable to attack. The government needs to get a grip, and quickly. They need to be less focused on defending Keir Starmer and more focused on defending the country.'
A Ministry of Defence spokesperson said: 'The Defence Investment Plan will deliver the best kit and technology into the hands of our frontline forces at speed, while investing in and growing the UK economy. We are working to finalise the Plan and it will be published as soon as possible.'
