Labour lambasted over defence

This episode of Political Fix examines mounting criticism of Labour's defence policy under Prime Minister Keir Starmer, as former NATO head Lord George Robertson delivers a scathing critique of what he calls 'corrosive complacency' in defence spending. The 10-year military funding plan remains stalled due to a long-standing feud between the Ministry of Defence and the Treasury, with no decisive intervention from Starmer. The discussion highlights how procurement failures, changing warfare dynamics—especially the rise of drones and cyber threats—and new international commitments like NATO Arctic sentry and a potential coalition force in the Strait of Hormuz are straining defence budgets. Despite Starmer's pledge to raise defence spending to 2.6% of GDP, the government faces a political dilemma: cutting welfare or raising taxes to fund defence, both of which are politically risky. The episode also covers the fallout from Peter Mandelson's failed security vetting, which has damaged Starmer's credibility, and the looming local elections, where Labour and the Conservatives face potential losses. Meanwhile, the podcast explores the shifting political landscape in Scotland and Wales, where the SNP and Plaid Cymru are gaining ground, though independence remains unlikely in Wales. The hosts debate whether Starmer can reframe defence as a central political narrative to rally public support.