The UK’s defence posture has come under renewed scrutiny after Lord George Robertson, former NATO Secretary General and author of the Strategic Defence Review (SDR), warned that national security faces significant challenges.
Speaking in Salisbury, he said: “We are under-prepared. We’re under-insured. We are under attack. We’re not safe.”
He added: “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 cold reality of today’s dangerous world is that we cannot defend Britain with an ever-expanding welfare budget.”
The government rejected the claims, with Defence Procurement Minister Luke Pollard saying ministers are working to finalise the Defence Investment Plan while increasing defence funding and maintaining operational readiness.
The SDR, published in 2025, set out a shift towards “war-fighting readiness” and a NATO-first approach, alongside long-term investment goals. However, questions remain over how these commitments will be funded as debate continues over UK defence preparedness.
ℹ️ ITN
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