- Lord Jock Stirrup, a former chief of defence staff, has warned that the UK requires a decade of sustained investment to rebuild its defence, even if the prime minister shows immediate leadership.
- He stated that the UK is "badly exposed" and needs a "complete change of mentality" to achieve a war footing, echoing Lord Robertson's concerns about the nation's security being in "peril".
- Lord Stirrup highlighted the urgent need to replenish depleted stores and munitions, partly due to aid sent to Ukraine, and to develop an agile and scalable defence industrial base.
- He criticised the government for a perceived lack of determination and leadership in making the difficult decisions necessary for defence investment, despite acknowledging financial pressures.
- The warning comes amidst ongoing criticism regarding delays to the Defence Investment Plan, with Sir Keir Starmer defending his government's commitment to increased defence spending while facing calls to publish the plan promptly.
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