Ex-Nato Chief Issues Stark Warning: UK Security 'In Peril' Under Starmer
Lord George Robertson, a former Labour defence secretary and ex-Nato secretary general, has launched a blistering attack on Prime Minister Keir Starmer, declaring that Britain's national security is "in peril" due to political complacency and funding delays. In a searing intervention that will reverberate across Westminster, Robertson accuses the government of paying mere "lip service" to defence while failing to address urgent threats.
A Corrosive Complacency in Leadership
In a lecture scheduled for Tuesday evening, extracts of which were published by the Financial Times, Robertson will deliver a stark message: "We are underprepared. We are underinsured. We are under attack. We are not safe." He attributes this perilous state to a "corrosive complacency" among political leaders, who he claims prioritise an expanding welfare budget over essential defence investments.
The former Nato boss specifically targets Chancellor Rachel Reeves, noting that she devoted only 40 words to defence in last year's Budget speech and none in the recent Spring Statement. He criticises "non-military experts in the Treasury" for what he terms "vandalism", arguing that their influence undermines national security planning.
Delays and Deadlock Over Defence Investment
Starmer faces mounting pressure over the delayed publication of a 10-year defence investment plan, originally slated for autumn last year. This plan is intended to implement the government's Strategic Defence Review (SDR), which Robertson helped lead. The Prime Minister has told MPs that the plans are being "finalised" but has not provided a release date, citing a desire to avoid unfunded commitments inherited from previous Tory administrations.
However, reports indicate a funding gap of approximately £28 billion in existing proposals, with the Ministry of Defence, Treasury, and Downing Street locked in deadlock over the way forward. Robertson asserts there is a clear disconnect between Starmer's rhetoric on defence and the tangible actions taken, accusing the PM of being "not willing to make the necessary investment."
Global Context and a Rude Wake-Up Call
The warning comes amid heightened global instability, particularly the US/Israel war in the Middle East, which Robertson describes as a "rude wake-up call" for ministers. He also addresses shifting international alliances, noting that "the role and priorities of the United States have shifted, and will never be the same again," in a veiled reference to criticisms from former US President Donald Trump towards Nato.
Despite government commitments to increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027, rising to 3% in the next parliament and 3.5% by 2035, Robertson's intervention underscores deep concerns about implementation. A government spokesman defended the administration, stating: "We are delivering on the Strategic Defence Review to meet the threats we face. It is backed by the largest sustained increase in defence spending since the Cold War."
Nevertheless, Robertson's stark assessment signals that alarm bells are ringing loudly in political and defence circles, with calls for immediate action to safeguard Britain's security in an increasingly volatile world.
