Keir Starmer’s 365 days of dithering just made the UK an easy target for Putin | Politics | News

It’s been a year since Sir Keir Starmer pledged to put UK security and defence “front and centre”. In his introduction to the Strategic Defence Review (SDR) — published 365 days ago — the Prime Minister talked a good game.

“In this new era for defence and security, when Russia is waging war on our continent and probing our defences at home, we must meet the danger head on,” Sir Keir said in one punchy line. In another, he said: “The fundamental truth is clear: a step-change in the threats we face demands a step-change in British defence to meet them.” Yet on the one-year anniversary of this bold rhetoric, perhaps Sir Keir should be reminded that action speaks much louder than words… and there has been very little action.

The wide-ranging SDR was described as a “root and branch review of defence”, setting out the vision for Britain’s defences over the next 10 years.

One key aspect was the publication of a Defence Investment Plan (DIP) to detail how these transformations will be funded.

The DIP was due to be published in the autumn but lo and behold it is still yet to be seen following inter-department squabbling.

The delays have become a farce and “paralysed” Britain’s defence industry.

The hold up has made a mockery of the PM’s grand pitch to stand up to Vladimir Putin who we can safely assume is not shaking in his boots.

Several sources have expressed alarm over the impasse which has largely seen the awarding of procurement contracts put on hold.

Many UK defence firms are in limbo as they wait to finally get some clarity on spending plans, while the delays has seen some manufacturers going bust.

There have been warnings the setbacks risk “undermining” UK sovereignty and security.

NATO allies are also understood to be concerned as Britain’s status as a top power in the alliance wanes.

The shrinking size of the British military is believed to be one key area of worry following decades of defence cuts by successive governments.

HMS Dragon’s protracted deployment to Cyprus after an RAF base on the island was hit by a drone is a clear example of this.

The phrase ‘chickens coming home to roost’ comes to mind.

The Royal Navy has been at the eye of the media storm in past months, but the truth is this is a defence-wide epidemic.

In March, it was reported a British Army major faced disciplinary action after a song poking fun at the state of the military went viral.

The AI-generated song titled ‘Dying in the First Wave’, described the Army as being “a little bit s***” and predicted soldiers will all die “in the first wave” of a war.

Senior military chiefs were understood to be furious, although I am sure Mr Putin and his Kremlin cronies managed to chuckle.

It was only last week that the head of GCHQ warned Russia is “relentlessly targeting critical infrastructure, democratic processes, supply chains and public trust”.

The First Sea Lord has said Russian incursions into British waters have soared by nearly a third in the last two years, meanwhile Sir Keir’s warning to crackdown on suspected shadow fleet tankers has so far fallen on deaf ears.

We look weak and Labour must now take urgent action to ensure the words Sir Keir said 365 days ago ring true.

Getting on with releasing the DIP is the most obvious way to do this, as is the expected and much needed £18 billion cash injection.

Defence Secretary John Healey says the PM is “determined to publish” the delayed document before the NATO summit on July 7.

But with it understood no date has still been set, you’ll forgive defence firms for not believing it until they see it.

Britain’s status as a soft touch with the Kremlin will only end when UK actions finally speak louder than words.