UK's Defence Planning Criticized for Lack of Urgency

A co-author of Britain's strategic defence review has joined criticism of the government's leadership on military policy, warning of a 'bizarre' lack of urgency in defence planning. Fiona Hill, a former chief adviser to the White House on Russia, expressed her concerns over the government's delay in providing its 10-year spending plans for defence.

Hill's comments come after George Robertson, her co-author on the strategic defence review, publicly aired his frustration at the government's failure to come forward with its spending plans. Robertson, a peer and former head of Nato, accused 'non-military experts in the Treasury' of 'vandalism' and warned that the country cannot defend itself with an ever-expanding welfare budget.

Delays and Criticism

Robertson's concerns were echoed by Hill, who said that the lack of urgency in putting Britain on a war footing was 'bizarre' given the current global situation. She argued that the government's delay in providing spending plans was leading to a loss of confidence within the British defence sector and among financial investors.

The suggestion that public spending cuts may be necessary to fund defence has also sparked controversy, with Labour MP Diane Abbott accusing Robertson of putting 'guns before butter'. Abbott warned that such a move could lose Labour votes to the Greens.

Gen Richard Barrons, another co-author of the strategic defence review, told the BBC's Today programme that there was an 'enormous gap' between where the country needed to be to keep safe and where it actually was. He warned that the US would not come to Britain's aid and that the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force were 'undernourished'.

Call to Action

Former defence secretary John Hutton called on the chancellor to use flexibility in fiscal rules to borrow more for defence, citing Germany as an example. Hutton warned that the UK had 18 months to show it was properly financing its defence to deter Vladimir Putin from making a military move against British interests.

Tan Dhesi, the Labour MP for Slough, expressed concern over Robertson's intervention and accused Treasury ministers of avoiding accountability by refusing to appear before the defence committee.

A government spokesperson defended the strategic defence review, stating that it was 'backed by the largest sustained increase in defence spending since the cold war, with a total of over £270bn being invested across this parliament'.