Stripping our armed forces at a time of rising global instability puts every citizen at risk. (Image: Getty Images)
Labour’s cancellation of our timetable to spend 2.5% of GDP on defence by 2030 was the first red flag – and now, their reckless defence cuts confirm the truth: Labour is failing in the first duty of any government – the defence of the realm.
At a time of escalating global threats, including this week’s developments in , where Storm Shadow and ATACMS missiles were used inside , these cuts are not just misguided; they are dangerously irresponsible.
Labour’s defence cuts are nothing short of a betrayal – reckless, short-sighted, and perilously out of touch with the challenges Britain faces. Stripping our armed forces at a time of rising global instability isn’t just a mistake; it’s a miscalculated gamble with our national security that puts every citizen at risk.
This isn’t just about saving £500 million or “modernising” our forces, as Labour would have you believe. This is about dismantling key structures of our defence. Two amphibious assault ships – HMS Albion and HMS Bulwark – scrapped. The Type 23 frigate HMS Northumberland? Gone. Thirty-one helicopters, including 14 legendary Chinooks? Chopped. Critical Watchkeeper drones that keep our forces informed and ahead of the game? Wiped out with no replacement on the immediate horizon.
And all this on a day when the world got notably more dangerous. As Putin escalates his rhetoric, irresponsibly threatening nuclear conflict, what is Labour doing? Weakening Britain’s defences by stripping our armed forces of critical tools.
won’t be deterred by speeches or promises of upgrades that won’t arrive for years. He’s watching – closely – and every cut Labour makes sends him one clear message: Britain is weaker today than it was yesterday.
Putin isn’t the only one taking notes. Labour might try to spin their actions as savings, but Beijing, Tehran, and every rogue actor on the global stage will see these cuts for what they are: a signal that Britain is stepping back when we should be stepping up.
Take HMS Albion and HMS Bulwark – two amphibious assault ships that have been the backbone of Britain’s ability to project power abroad via our phenomenal Royal Marines. Labour says they’re outdated and in “low readiness,” but here’s the truth: I visited these ships whilst Defence Secretary and ordered that one was to be put on standby. A move welcomed by Luke Pollard, who is now a defence minister. Yet now in power, Labour is scrapping them entirely, leaving Britain without any comparable amphibious assault capability. An island nation with no way to project amphibious power? It’s an insult to our history and a gift to our adversaries.
Then there’s the helicopters. Thirty-one of them, including 14 Chinooks and 17 Pumas, all being retired early. These aircraft have been the workhorses of British operations for decades, from combat zones to humanitarian missions. Labour claims replacements will be delivered by 2027. What happens if a crisis erupts tomorrow? Do we tell our brave troops, don’t worry – just wait for delivery day?
And let’s not forget the Watchkeeper drones – vital for reconnaissance and intelligence gathering. Labour says they’re “outdated.”
But here’s the kicker: there’s no replacement plan. None. In the modern era of warfare, where intelligence is the difference between victory and defeat, Labour has decided to blindfold our forces and call it “progress.”
The events in should serve as a wake-up call. Kyiv’s strategic use of advanced military capabilities – like Storm Shadow and ATACMS missiles- has shown how the right tools in the right hands can be critical in war. Yet here we are, with Labour dismantling our ability to act decisively on the global stage. It’s not modernisation; it’s sabotage.
Let’s not mince words: these cuts are indefensible. Labour’s refusal to commit to spending 2.5% of GDP on defence, a programme I personally put in place to safeguard our nation’s security, is a clear signal that Labour doesn’t take Britain’s security seriously. They’re more interested in soundbites about “value for money” than ensuring our armed forces are equipped to face today’s threats, let alone tomorrow’s.
And spare me the excuse about inheriting a “dire financial situation.” Every government faces tough decisions, but gutting our military isn’t tough – it’s weak. Strong leaders prioritise protecting their people and securing their nation. Labour, on the other hand, is pouring money into inflation-busting pay rises for their union paymasters while hollowing out our armed forces. They’re rolling over and hoping our adversaries don’t notice.
Putin’s nuclear sabre-rattling, China’s territorial intentions, rising tensions in the Middle East – this is the world we live in. It’s dangerous, unpredictable, and unforgiving. Yet Labour is willing to bet our safety on promises of future upgrades and empty rhetoric about modernisation.
National security isn’t optional. It’s not a line item you cut to balance the books. It’s the foundation of everything we stand for – our freedom, our prosperity, our way of life. Labour’s cuts are a betrayal of that foundation, and they put every one of us at risk.
The British people deserve better. Our armed forces deserve better. We cannot afford to let Labour’s dangerous gamble go unchallenged. Reversing these cuts isn’t just the right thing to do – it’s the only thing to do.