In a straight political intervention, Lord Robertson will warn in a speech later: “We cannot defend Britain with an ever-expanding welfare budget.”
Speaking in Salisbury, the previous Labour defence secretary will say: “We are underprepared. We are underinsured. We are under attack. We are not safe . . . Britain’s national security and safety is in peril.”
He will add: “There is a corrosive complacency today in Britain’s political leadership. Lip service is paid to the risks, the threats, the bright red signals of danger – but even a promised national conversation about defence can’t be started.”
The Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, beforehand mentioned the funding plan was on his desk and was being “finalised”.
A defence official highlighted the federal government’s goal to spend 3% of GDP on defence by the top of the following parliament.
A authorities spokesperson mentioned: “We are delivering on the Strategic Defence Review to meet the threats we face.”
Speaking to the BBC’s Today programme, General Sir Richard Barrons – one other of the SDR report’s authors – agreed with Lord Robertson that “there’s 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”.
