OPINION – NICK FERRARI: It is higher to not plant a bomb in your method within the first place fairly than accomplish that and hope to disarm it later!
Does it get any extra damning? Frighteningly, sure (Picture: -)
It was a stinging condemnation delivered with the precision of a drone strike and the affect of an Exocet missile. The torpedo over the dearth of spending on our navy launched by Labour grandee Lord Robertson hit Sir Keir Starmer’s premiership midships and holed it under the waterline – as Starmer’s blathering baloney at PMQs testified. The embarrassment attributable to Roberston’s rebuke was threefold.
Firstly, earlier than his elevation to the Lords George Robertson had served as Defence Secretary and was one of many main lights in Tony Blair’s Labour authorities. Secondly, he was deemed suitably educated in these issues to be given the crucial function of Secretary Common of NATO, and certainly steered the alliance by means of the aftermath of the 9/11 assaults. And lastly, shortly after Labour got here to energy he was appointed to chair the essential Strategic Defence Assessment (SDR).
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And guess who appointed him? That’s proper: Sir Keir Starmer! The identical man who obtained the SDR in June final yr, promptly introduced a “defence funding plan” can be revealed inside months however since then has carried out … NOTHING!
Due to this fact, when Starmer tries to brush off Robertson’s feedback it appears terribly pathetic. One minute that is the person to find out the way forward for our armed forces for the following decade at the very least, the following his views are blithely discounted.
As Lord Robertson, somebody I’ve interviewed on a variety of events, just isn’t a person given to hyperbole, his views are much more damaging.
He couldn’t have been any extra candid when he warned: “We aren’t secure. Nationwide safety is in peril. We’re underprepared, underinsured, below assault.”
Does it get any extra damning? Frighteningly, sure – as he additionally threw in for good measure that there’s “corrosive complacency” and “vandalism” from the Treasury over this lack of funding and that is clearly demonstrated by their alternative of spending priorities.
For the 2025-26 monetary yr, spending on welfare – together with advantages and pensions – got here in at £333billion which, for the primary time ever, exceeded complete revenue tax income of £331billion.
However with 1,000 new claimants signing on for incapacity advantages EVERY DAY and 11 million individuals of working age not in work, that’s hardly stunning.
For context regarding defence spending, that funds is a relatively small £62million and reviews surfaced final week that’s to be reduce by £3.5billion – nearly the whole value of Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ resolution to scrap the two-child advantages cap.
What a coincidence! And one which neatly encapsulates the shameful place adopted by this Authorities. Quite than stare down the rebellious Labour backbenchers who opposed their timid welfare reforms final yr, the Authorities capitulated. As a substitute of proscribing spending on that funds, they’ve managed to get to a spot the place it can improve by £18billion this yr alone.
This was additionally addressed by Lord Robertson in a speech that stripped naked this Authorities’s damaged guarantees as he mentioned: “Britain’s welfare funds is now 5 instances the quantity we spend on defence… are we sure that that is the fitting precedence – jeopardising individuals’s future security and safety, whereas sustaining an more and more unsustainable welfare invoice?”
Regrettably, don’t count on any governmental change of tack as this can be a PM who rewards a military of these neither in, nor in search of work, whereas ignoring the wants of our navy, and thereby placing us all in danger.
Any concepts?
Surprise when Sir Solely Robbins’ telephone can be stolen…
Only a well mannered suggestion…
At the moment, this Authorities has “consultations” or “critiques” below method on all the pieces from defence spending and trans rights to the value of petrol and the pub commerce. Any probability they might really DO one thing?
We may all do with studying this lesson proper now
Paddington the Bear musical (Picture: Getty)
Marmalada turned to accolades for the Paddington The Bear musical on the Olivier Awards – and deservedly so.
This musical is an utter triumph, as was the brilliantly staged awards present, and well-deserved its seven gongs. It additionally has, as its central theme, why it’s essential to “simply be type.”
And with the world in its present state, may there be a extra pertinent message?
Absolutely this must be revered
Whereas Reform UK’s Robert Jenrick’s proposal to deport the mother and father of the Southport killer to their native Rwanda is troublesome to help, the broader level that they need to face some type of prison cost is extra legitimate.
The inquiry into how Bebe King, six, Elsie Dot Stancombe, seven, and Alice da Silva Aguiar, 9, have been so callously murdered heard the mother and father, Alphonse Rudakubana and Laetitia Muzayire allowed knives, a machete and different weapons to be delivered to their house.
Per week earlier than the tragedy the daddy intercepted his son getting right into a taxi whereas armed and on his option to his former faculty – however failed to tell the police.
A lawyer appearing for the grieving households has indicated the mother and father would help any try at prosecution. Whereas it can take recent laws, certainly their needs needs to be revered?
A disgraceful new low
Posting a picture displaying him as Jesus Christ was a brand new and disgraceful low even for him. He has now gone thus far over the road, that line is now not in sight.
The image, which I don’t intend to indicate, was blasphemous and little surprise the Catholic vote that helped propel him to the White Home – he received that demography by a 12-point margin within the election – is beginning to collapse. He deserves the comeuppance of this unholy row.
Kemi Badenoch’s on to one thing
When Conservative chief Kemi Badenoch steered on my breakfast radio present police have their priorities flawed in chasing after motorists who’re caught doing 22mph in a 20mph zone, she was proper.
Going two, or three miles over the restrict at that pace shouldn’t entice the complete three factors penalty. Why not introduce a scheme whereby if the pace clocked is anyplace between 20 and 25mph in these 20mph ones, it is just penalised with one level, which appears a fairer system.
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