In a stark and highly critical intervention, a former NATO Secretary General has issued a grave warning that the United Kingdom's national security is "in peril" due to what he describes as Sir Keir Starmer's "corrosive complacency" towards defence. Lord George Robertson, a Labour peer and former defence secretary appointed by the Prime Minister to author the government's Strategic Defence Review (SDR), will deliver a damning speech on Tuesday, accusing the Labour leader of failing to prioritise necessary investments.
Damning Accusations of Complacency and Underinvestment
Lord Robertson is set to argue that the UK faces severe vulnerabilities, stating: "We are underprepared. We are underinsured. We are under attack. We are not safe." He will further criticise "non-military experts" within the Treasury for engaging in "vandalism" and lambast Sir Keir Starmer for an unwillingness "to make the necessary investment" in Britain's defence capabilities. This comes amid escalating global tensions, including conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, which underscore the urgency of robust defence preparedness.
Funding Delays and a £28 Billion Black Hole
The government has repeatedly delayed the publication of a promised 10-year defence investment plan intended to fund the SDR, with warnings emerging of a £28 billion funding shortfall in military budgets over the next four years. Lord Robertson will highlight this as symptomatic of broader political failure, noting that "even a promised national conversation about defence can't be started." He also takes aim at the ballooning welfare budget, warning that "we cannot defend Britain with an ever-expanding welfare budget," linking fiscal priorities to national security.
Military Depletion and Strategic Concerns
General Sir Richard Barrons, another author of the SDR, echoed Lord Robertson's concerns in a BBC Radio 4 interview, stating there is "an enormous gap between where we have to be to keep the country safe in the world we now live in and where we actually are." He had previously warned that the UK's military is so depleted it could only "seize a small market town on a good day," highlighting critical shortages in personnel and equipment. The army has been reduced to around 70,000 troops, and there are ongoing issues with outdated heavy vehicles and tanks.
Political Backlash and Defence Commitments
The criticism extends beyond Lord Robertson, with former defence secretary Ben Wallace accusing ministers of "taking the public for fools" after current Defence Secretary John Healey insisted the UK is ready to defend itself. Wallace argued that the Labour Party relies on "hollow platitudes and partisan comments" rather than making tough political decisions. Meanwhile, Sir Keir Starmer told MPs that the government is working to finalise the defence investment plan, cautioning against repeating past mistakes of unfunded and undeliverable plans inherited from previous administrations.
Government Response and NATO Targets
A government spokesman defended the administration's efforts, 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, with a total of over £270 billion being invested across this Parliament." The government has committed to spending 2.5% of GDP on defence by 2027, increasing to 3% in the next parliament, and aiming for a NATO-agreed target of 3.5% by 2035. However, operational challenges persist, such as delays in deploying HMS Dragon to Cyprus following attacks from Iran, attributed to in-year savings.
As MPs from across the Commons express growing concerns over the delayed Defence Investment Plan, Lord Robertson's intervention underscores a deepening crisis in UK defence policy, with calls for immediate action to address funding gaps and strategic shortfalls in an increasingly volatile global landscape.
