Labour Grandee Blames Starmer Over UK Defence Spending

A Labour grandee and former Nato boss has accused Keir Starmer of leaving the UK “in peril” due to a lack of spending on defence.

Lord George Robertson, who served as defence secretary in Tony Blair’s cabinet, said Britain is “underprepared … underinsured [and] … not safe” on the prime minister’s watch.

His comments are significant because he carried out a Strategic Defence Review on behalf of the PM.

But in a speech to be delivered on Tuesday, the Labour peer will hit out at the lack of progress being made by the government on implementing his recommendations.

He 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.”

Lord Robertson 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 peer, who was Nato secretary general between 1999 and 2003, will also warn that “we cannot defend Britain with an ever-expanding welfare budget”.

And we will take aim at “non-military experts in the Treasury” who he accuses of “vandalism” for not providing enough funding for defence.

Lord Robertson’s comments come amid global tensions over the wars in Iran and Ukraine, and the mounting threat to the UK from Russian aggression.

A government spokesperson said: “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.

“We are finalising our Defence Investment Plan that we will publish as soon as possible, rebuilding British industry to make defence an engine for growth and doubling down on our own commitment to Nato.”

Subscribe to Commons People, the podcast that makes politics easy. Every week, Kevin Schofield and Kate Nicholson unpack the week’s biggest stories to keep you informed. Join us for straightforward analysis of what’s going on at Westminster.