Horror WW3 warning as Rachel Reeves accused of leaving UK exposed | World | News
Chancellor Rachel Reeves (Image: Getty)
Former Conservative Defense Secretary Tobias Ellwood has warned that Britain risks being unprepared for global conflict and accused Chancellor Rachel Reeves of leaving the country dangerously exposed by resisting calls for higher defense spending. Mr Ellwood believes refusing to invest more in the armed forces reveals a situation where the Treasury is “out of touch with reality” at a time when global threats are increasing.
Mr Ellwood told Express.co.uk: “There is a symbiotic relationship between our economy and our security. Land Rover Jaguar is a great example of how gray zone warfare bypasses the battlefield and we get hit directly.”
Read more: World War 3 fears explode as German chief of general staff warns ‘we are already under attack’
Read more: Starmer warns chiefs of staff that UK armed forces are ‘dishonest’ about state
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer (Image: Getty)
“Our society is vulnerable and needs protection, lest the Treasury understand that refusing to invest further in our defense posture shows just how out of touch with reality we really are.”
The warning came amid a dispute between the Treasury and the Ministry of Defence; service chiefs have highlighted a £28bn shortfall in funding needed to maintain NATO commitments and meet evolving Russian threats.
Mr Ellwood, a former British Army officer, said Britain could not afford to follow the “Whitehall bubble” mentality and argued that ministers should respond to real-world dangers rather than focusing narrowly on fiscal constraints.
He added: “Our world is definitely becoming more dangerous and we need to prepare for that. This should not be guided by the Treasury. The Prime Minister made clear in Munich that it was time to invest more in defence, and every other European country is doing the same. Why should we think we know better and then act differently?”
Mr Ellwood stressed the need for a national, non-partisan approach and called on Prime Minister Keir Starmer to take the lead in coordinating support across political lines.
Tobias Ellwood is a former government minister and British Army officer. (Image: Getty)
Mr Ellwood said: “If I were Keir Starmer, I would urge other leaders to say, ‘Look, it’s in Britain’s interest that we get this right.’ There’s no extra money and we’re not growing, so we’re going to have to find funding somewhere.”
He suggested that a targeted, modest tax increase could fund vital defense improvements.
Mr Ellwood said: “I calculated that increasing income tax by 1% would be very unpopular, but if you explain to the British people that this would be a defensive specific increase to protect our country from these dangers, that changes the conversation. It would cost every taxpayer roughly the price of a cappuccino a day, and that would help protect us in the long term. Either we do it, or we take the risk.”
Mr Ellwood warned that the Treasury would continue to prioritize other sectors such as health and education unless MPs demanded increased spending.
Mr Ellwood said: “MPs aren’t demanding it. If MPs aren’t demanding it, the Treasury is happy to focus the money on health, education and other sectors. That’s the strategy here; it’s a bit more nuanced than it seems at first glance. But you need a plan, otherwise we have to wait for a pretty big event. The dangers are greater than the Treasury realises.”
Tom Tugendhat discusses defense spending
The comments echo earlier warnings from another former British Army officer, Stuart Crawford, who also told Express.co.uk Sir Keir should “order Rachel Reeves to buckle down and get on with it” and criticized the Labor leadership for allowing Treasury officials to block additional defense funding.
Mr Crawford highlighted the mismatch between Labour’s welfare-focused ideology and the government’s practical responsibilities.
Mr Crawford said: “If you accept that the government’s first responsibility is the defense and security of the state, its citizens and the national interest, then it is clear that defense funding must always be a priority, not just now.”
Army commanders have repeatedly warned that Britain risks being left behind in NATO’s rearmament drive. Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Knighton stated that Russia’s military posture was “shifting decisively westwards”, while Air Chief Marshal Sir Harv Smyth criticized the “slow” pace of budget discussions, saying political indecision was slowing down the Defense Investment Plan.
Mr Ellwood said effective messaging was vital to ensure public support for defense spending.
He explained: “Sure, so it’s as much about messaging as anything else, right? When the nation is aware of the dangers, they’ll be willing to spend more. But when you raise taxes – especially when you promise not to – that never ends well.”
The risk of strategic unpreparedness has never been higher, as NATO allies step up military investment and Russia expands its capabilities.
Mr Ellwood concluded: “Our society is vulnerable and we need protection. The Treasury’s current approach leaves the UK vulnerable at a time when we can least afford it.”
Speaking on Tuesday, a Ministry of Defense spokesman said: “As the public rightly expect, this government is committed to securing value for money for taxpayers. Defense budgets are continually assessed and reprioritised as part of routine budget management and to ensure we can respond to the changing nature of the threats we face.”
