Labour warns that Europe can no longer rely on the US to protect it from Russia as John Healey unveils scheme to reform MoD and UK military planning with blast at Tory 'hollowing out' of the Armed Forces amid Budget row over defence cash

Britain and the rest of Europe cannot rely on the United States to underpin its defense, the shadow defence secretary warned today as he unveiled Labour’s plan to reorganise British military planning.

John Healey used a London speech to warn that the continent must face up to the new ‘reality’ as the US focuses on the growing threat from China rather than Russian aggression.

He unveiled plans for a new centralised planning unit within the Ministry of Defence if Labour wins the election later this year.

As part of the plan the party would extend the regular term served by the chief of the defence staff, the serving head of UK Armed Forces, from two to four years to increase continuity.

Mr Healey also used his Policy Exchange speech to attack the ‘hollowing out’ of Britain’s military under the Tories.

It comes amid a furious row over whether there is any more money available for defence in next month’s Budget.

Despite wars raging in Europe and the Middle East, Chancellor Jeremy Hunt is set to defy calls to give the MoD more money. Former military chiefs and defence ministers lined up to urge him to reconsider – with one saying the decision was ‘absolute lunacy’.

The Armed Forces have been rocked by problems in recent months, with fears over manpower and the quantity and quality of their equipment.

John Healey used a London speech to warn that the continent must face up to the new ‘reality’ as the US focuses on the growing threat from China rather than Russian aggression.

Mr Healey also used his Policy Exchange speech to attack the ‘hollowing out’ of Britain’s military under the Tories .

Despite wars raging in Europe and the Middle East, the Chancellor (pictured in October 2023) is set to defy calls to give the Ministry of Defence more money

Speaking in London today Mr Healey said: ‘Over the next decade, we face Putin and an active alliance of aggression from autocrats who have contempt for international law and freely squander the lives of their own people.

‘And we face the reality that European allies must take on greater responsibility for European security, as the US increasingly focuses on China and the Indo Pacific.’

He added: ‘The Defence Secretary, in his Lancaster House Speech, was right when he said: ”For Ukraine, this will be a year when the fate of their nation may be decided.”

‘He was also right to argue that what we do in UK defence can send important signals to the world.

‘But what signal does it send to our adversaries when UK Armed Forces have been ‘hollowed out and underfunded’ over the last 14 years, as Ben Wallace admitted to me in the Commons last year.

‘When the British Army has been cut to the smallest size since Napoleon.

‘When Forces recruitment targets have been missed every year.

‘When satisfaction with service life has fallen to record lows.

‘When the defence procurement system is condemned by the Public Accounts Committee as ‘broken and repeatedly wasting taxpayers’ money’.’

Last night ex-defence secretary Ben Wallace said Britain’s ‘hollowed-out’ military will not be ‘match-fit’ for the conflicts to come without a committed rise in defence spending. Mr Hunt is planning to prioritise tax cuts to grow the economy, with sources pointing to the extra £11 billion – spread over five years – that he gave to the MoD last year.

But much of that money is already allocated to long-term projects such as upgrading the nuclear deterrent and replacing equipment sent to Ukraine.

Last night ex-defence secretary Ben Wallace said Britain’s ‘hollowed-out’ military will not be ‘match-fit’ for the conflicts to come without a committed rise in defence spending.

A report by MPs this month found that – despite £50 billion a year being spent on defence – ‘sustained ongoing investment’ is needed for the UK to be able to fight a ‘high-intensity war’.

Mr Wallace said: ‘We are already tumbling down the tables on defence spending and aid to Ukraine. Reversing 30 years of hollowing-out can’t be done in four years. We need a sustainable and committed Budget uplift for defence or we will not be ‘match-fit’ for the conflicts to come.’

Former Army commander Colonel Hamish de Bretton-Gordon said: ‘This is absolute lunacy. Tragically, no political party in this country sees defence spending as a vote winner; alas, Vladimir Putin does.

‘The threats to the UK have never been greater. When I fought in the Gulf War 34 years ago the Army was three times the size it is now – we had 500 tanks. With the Russians charging west, we would struggle to raise 50. It is bonkers that we cannot spend more on defence.’

Fears that the MoD will be denied any extra funding in the Budget is a major blow to the service chiefs. According to defence sources, the Treasury and Downing Street no longer trust the MoD to manage its finances after top brass wasted billions on faulty equipment.

The UK’s failure to step-up defence spending comes as Nato allies increase their investment in defence due to fears that Russia is becoming more dangerous. Yesterday, Moscow warned of an ‘inevitable’ war with Nato after French president Emmanuel Macron speculated that western troops could be deployed in Ukraine.

It came as the head of the Armed Forces criticised the Army chief over his call to reintroduce conscription.

Admiral Sir Tony Radakin, Chief of the Defence Staff (CDS), was speaking at a military think-tank when he took aim at General Sir Patrick Sanders.

His attack came after General Sir Patrick, the Chief of General staff (CGS), recently suggested that Britain required a ‘national mobilisation’ programme to prepare for war against Russia. The Army chief caused further alarm when he warned that chronic underfunding threatens to reduce Britain’s military to a mere domestic defence force, making it incapable of conducting major operations overseas.

Speaking at Chatham House in London, Admiral Sir Tony dismissed the warning and reminded General Sir Patrick of his responsibilities.

He said: ‘I want to scotch some sensationalist headlines. We are not on the cusp of war with Russia and we are not about to be invaded.

‘No one in the Ministry of Defence is talking about conscription in any traditional sense of the term. I worry the public debate that has played out over recent weeks risks becoming confused and some remarks are alarmist.’

Defence Secretary Grant Shapps hit back this afternoon, saying: ‘John Healey served for four long years in Jeremy Corbyn’s shadow cabinet, a man who wanted to abolish our armed forces, leave NATO, junk the continuous-at-sea-nuclear deterrent, and shamefully doubted the integrity of British intelligence services.

‘Under Rishi Sunak and the Conservatives, our plan is working as we continue to defend the country and our allies, whilst delivering the economic security the British people deserve, so we can deliver our pledge of 2.5 per cent of GDP on defence spending.’

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