In times of such international instability, it is not only disheartening to see the current state of the stalled defence budget, but alarming due to the potential danger it puts us in. Our armed forces are chronically underfunded, and the promises of increased spending have amounted to figure fiddling rather than tangible progress.
The issue of national defence is one which ought to need little underscoring. The first duty of the Prime Minister and the Government is the safety of the nation. With insufficient backing, formation, numbers or equipment, we cannot ask our armed forces to risk their lives.
John Healy resigned as Minister of Defence, pointing to a lack of urgency and care in Sir Kier Starmer’s Government concerning increased defence spending. This move provided some hope to those who have grown weary of the heel dragging on this issue. If the new Prime Minister should so choose, he can solve the issue of defence expenditure by cutting the bloated welfare bill.
The Prime Minister is keen to back British industry, to reindustrialise the Midlands, to invest in our northern cities. In increasing the defence budget, he can do all of these things. The issue is no longer one which can be constrained to party politics, we must act to build up our national defence.
