Lord Stuart Peach, former chief of the defence staff, has warned that Russia poses a direct threat to the UK's way of life, including its undersea cables vital for internet and financial transactions. He stated that Russia intends to cause harm to the UK through economic disruption or 'dark arts', and that the evidence is clear.
In a joint interview with Baroness Jean Coussins, chair of the House of Lords National Resilience Committee, both peers emphasised the need for urgency in preparing for potential threats. Baroness Coussins highlighted that the UK is under daily cyber attack and faces proxy attacks from Russia and Iran, as confirmed by MI5.
Lord Peach noted that the UK is not prepared for widespread power cuts or full-scale war. He pointed to recent events such as the closure of Heathrow Airport due to a substation fire and a politically motivated arson attack in Berlin that left thousands without power. He called for the implementation of the Strategic Defence Review and better public preparedness, similar to Sweden's emergency advice booklets.
Baroness Coussins raised concerns about food security, noting that the UK imports a high proportion of its food. The committee is running an inquiry into national resilience and aims to convey a message of preparedness without scaremongering, learning from Nordic countries that found openness reassured the public.
