Former NATO chief George Robertson has criticized the UK's Defence Investment Plan (DIP) as insufficient and delayed, potentially damaging industry confidence and allied relations ahead of the NATO summit in Ankara. The plan faces criticism for its funding gaps and lack of clear spending targets.
Former NATO Secretary General George Robertson criticizes the UK's defense spending plan, stating it's insufficient to meet escalating threats and could lead to a cold reception at the NATO summit in Ankara.
Former NATO Secretary General George Robertson has called on the British government to prioritize defense spending over welfare, arguing that government responsibility for population safety must come first. Speaking at a parliamentary committee, Robertson warned that the UK's welfare budget is five times larger than defense spending and criticized the government for not investing enough in rearmament. He was an author of last summer's 114-page defense review outlining threats to UK Armed Forces.
George Robertson says diplomatic tone from White House is at ‘historic low’ and two allies are likely to keep divergingUK politics live – latest updatesBritain’s high military dependence on the US is “no longer tenable” and the UK has to become increasingly independent of the special relationship with Washington, a former Nato chief has said.George Robertson, who last week accused British leaders of a “corrosive complacency” towards defence, said on Wednesday that the traditional allies were diverging over values – and that even after Donald Trump leaves the White House, the separation was likely to continue. Continue reading...
The UK has effectively lost contact with nearly 95,000 reservists eligible for call-up in a national emergency, George Robertson has claimed Read Full Article at RT.com
Keir Starmer has hit back at Labour peer George Robertson’s criticisms about defence funding. Why has the government been slow to prioritise defence and what trade-offs is Keir Starmer willing to make in order to increase spending?Guardian Live: Can Labour come back from the brink?With a difficult set of May elections approaching, Labour under threat from the Green party and Reform UK, and Keir Starmer’s popularity in freefall, can he survive as leader of the Labour party? The Guardian’s Gaby Hinsliff will chair our panel of Guardian columnists including Polly Toynbee, Rafael Behr and Zoe Williams.Join us as they discuss Starmer, Labour and the upcoming May elections. They will also be answering your questions. Get your tickets here Continue reading...
About 95,000 former soldiers and officers in the UK's strategic reserve cannot be fully contacted because the Ministry of Defence has failed to maintain complete records of their details, former defence secretary George Robertson has claimed. The Labour peer, who co-authored last year's strategic defence review, said the MoD 'doesn't even know where most of them are' and called for urgent action to round up available veterans. The government announced plans in January to increase the maximum recall age from 55 to 65 and broaden the legal threshold for recall.
George Robertson has joined Reform and the Tories in making the case. Look welfare recipients in the face and say thatThe benefits budget is now a magic money tree. Whenever Conservatives or Faragists make wild promises – tax cuts, more police, more punishment, more bonuses for marriage – and are asked how they would pay, the answer is always “welfare”. The sums are enormous. “Only the Conservatives will cut welfare spending by £23bn and get Britain working again,” the party insists.More unexpected was the klaxon from the Labour peer George Robertson this week, demanding a cut in benefits to finance defence. “We cannot defend Britain with an ever-expanding welfare budget,” said the ex-Nato chief, wanting to pluck this juicy plum to fund defence. Good to see him slapped down sharply by the government: there is no “zero-sum game” between these two budgets, said the chancellor’s deputy, James Murray.Guardian Newsroom: Can Labour come back from the brink?On Thursday 30 April, join Gaby Hinsliff, Zoe Williams, Polly Toynbee and Rafael Behr as they discuss how much of a threat Labour faces from the Green party and Reform UK – and whether Keir Starmer can survive as leader. Book tickets here or at guardian.livePolly Toynbee is a Guardian columnist Continue reading...
