The UK lacks a coherent plan to defend itself from a military attack, MPs have warned, as the government pledges to boost readiness with new arms factories. A stark report from the Commons defence committee highlighted the challenges facing the UK's ability to fight a war and meet its Nato obligations in light of Russia's war in Ukraine.
“The UK lacks a plan for defending the homeland and overseas territories,” the MPs said, calling for the public to be given more information about the scale of the threat and the required response. The committee's chair, Labour MP Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi, stated: “Putin’s brutal invasion of Ukraine, unrelenting disinformation campaigns and repeated incursions into European airspace mean that we cannot afford to bury our heads in the sand.”
Dhesi added: “We have repeatedly heard concerns about the UK’s ability to defend itself from attack. Government must be willing to grasp the nettle and prioritise homeland defence and resilience. Wars aren’t won just by generals, but by the whole of the population getting behind the armed forces and playing our part.”
In response, Defence Secretary John Healey is set to announce at least 13 sites across the UK for new munitions and explosives factories, with the first plant expected to break ground next year. The plans include at least six new factories before the next election, creating at least 1,000 jobs. Healey will say: “This is a new era of threat but the opportunity of this new era is a defence dividend from our record investment, measured in good jobs, thriving businesses, new skills for the British people.”
Potential sites include Grangemouth in Scotland, Teesside in north-east England and Milford Haven in Wales. The Ministry of Defence has already committed £1.5bn of additional investment for energetics and munitions. Healey will also announce the opening of two drone factories this week in Plymouth and Swindon.
Before the defence secretary's speech, Prime Minister Keir Starmer travelled to Berlin to discuss defence with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron, amid negotiations over Britain's participation in a €150bn European defence fund.
