Labour’s defence delusion – why Britain isn’t ready for war

Keir Starmer has limped on and survived until parliamentary recess. Although, the Munich Security Conference has come with only more headaches. Military chiefs are piling the pressure on the PM to increase defence spending. Perpetual concerns about Britain’s diminishing military capabilities are about to cause a headache for him at home; bringing any spending target forward from the 2030s would pile immense pressure on Rachel Reeves, who would have to find billions to fund the increases. Elsewhere, Labour is facing fresh questions after revelations that the influential think tank Labour Together commissioned a report into journalists who were investigating its funding. The report, produced by PR firm ACPO, allegedly made unsubstantiated claims about Gabriel Pogrund and Harry Yorke, including suggestions of Russian links. It doesn’t make life much easier for Starmer, given Labour Together were so influential in his election as Labour leader… Tim Shipman and James Heale discuss. // SUBSCRIBE TO THE SPECTATOR Get 12 issues for £12, plus a free £20 John Lewis/Waitrose voucher https://www.spectator.co.uk/tvoffer // FREE PODCASTS FROM THE SPECTATOR Hear more from The Spectator's journalists on their podcasts, covering everything from the politics of the UK, US and China, to religion, literature, lifestyle and more. https://www.spectator.co.uk/podcasts/ // FOLLOW US https://www.twitter.com/spectator https://www.facebook.com/OfficialSpectator https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-spectator https://www.instagram.com/spectator1828 https://www.tiktok.com/@thespectatormagazine