Military & MI6 call out Starmer's latest lies on defence spending
On the back of the lies regarding the Chagos Islands, its cost and legality, we are back here again. But now its the former First Sea Lord, MI6, ministers and others calling Starmer out
For months, we have all heard Keir Starmer’s rhetoric about ‘stepping up’ to the Russian threat, the security of Europe and supporting our wonderful military men and women. But ironically, those very men and women who actually know what it takes to defend the realm are sounding the alarm. They aren’t just worried, they are directly accusing this Government of a dangerous lack of honesty with the public .
The latest revelations, initially highlighted by The Telegraph and further corroborated by insiders in The Spectator and Civil Service World, describe a staggering £28 billion black hole in the Ministry of Defence budget over the next four years. Despite the Prime Minister’s public claims of a ‘fully costed’ Strategic Defence Review last summer, the reality is far from that.
Sources indicate that when Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Knighton, the Chief of the Defence Staff, briefed the PM on this massive funding shortfall, Starmer’s reaction was one of disbelief and frustration, reportedly putting his head in his hands and asking, “Why are you doing this to me?” This response suggests a leader more concerned with the political fallout than the actual readiness and safety of our troops.
In a blistering open letter published this week, a coalition of over 40 of the UK’s most senior security and military figures including former MI6 chief Sir Richard Dearlove, three former Defence Secretaries, ex-military heavyweights including General Lord Dannatt and Admiral Lord West, have effectively called out the Prime Minister’s approach to misleading the public on national security.
This is our 1936 moment
The letter doesn’t mince words. It warns that Britain is facing its 1936 moment. A chilling reference to the years of denial that preceded the Second World War. While Starmer plays politics with percentage points, these experts argue that global conflict is no longer a distant if, but a likely when, and our current forces are hollowed out and not ready for any conflict.
The core of the accusation is simple. The Prime Minister is not being honest with the public about the scale of the crisis. While No. 10 touts a path to 2.5% of GDP spending, the letter exposes a £28 billion shortfall just to make our existing forces war-ready. This isn’t about expansion to address the growing threat, it’s about the capacity to just doing the very basic role.
The numbers don’t lie, but Starmer definitely is
The dishonesty cited by these leaders focuses on several key areas:
The Funding Gap: The £28 billion black hole in the MoD budget is equivalent to nearly half its annual spend. Without addressing this, any increase in spending is merely treading water in a slowly sinking ship.
The 5% Demand: While Starmer dithers over reaching 3% by 2029, the experts are clear, we need 5% of GDP committed to core defence now to provide a credible deterrent.
Imposing Additional Costs: The Government is accused of piling more and more costs onto the MoD including the fallout from the Chagos Islands deal and various pay rises without providing the extra cash to cover them.
Admiral Lord West, the former First Sea Lord, put it bluntly ‘Keir Starmer needs to put his money where his mouth is’ and stop the Treasury blocking the very investment the Prime Minister claims is essential.
The sentiment is echoed across social media and independent reports, where analysts point out that the Government’s delayed Defence Investment Plan is a sign of a leadership in denial. Critics argue that by trying to fund defence through raiding overseas aid or relying on fiscal conditions, Starmer is playing a shell game with our national survival and the sovereign security of the nation.
Starmer is a weak leader and we pay the price
We are witnessing a Prime Minister who wants the prestige of being a wartime leader, strutting around on the global stage giving speeches on security of Europe, dressed in military uniform trying to look tough, committing to putting British troops on the ground in Ukraine but all without being strong enough and willing enough to pay the political or financial price at home. It’s more important to take money off pensioners and farmers when they die to give it in foreign aid to countries that hate us, that protect our own country.
Sir Keir tells us we need to go faster, but his he still does nothing. You cannot deter Vladimir Putin with press releases stating your ambitions, the are worthless and laughable. Ironically quite the opposite of our military leaders who have done their duty by speaking truth to power and letting the public know what is really happening. Now, it is up to the public to demand that the Government stops the spin and starts the rearmament, but thats also difficult when the Tories started hollowing out our native manufacturing capability and Labour have killed the last remnants with their net zero ideology.
The clock is ticking and we are running out of time for Keir to protect the UK, but he cant even stop a rubber dingle crossing from France, or implement a Supreme Court decision about women’s toilets, so how we expect him to manage our national defence is beyond me.
Lets hope we can make it to 2029 and Rupert Lowe.