Andy Burnham’s decision to appoint Wes Streeting as Defence Secretary has triggered an immediate backlash, with a former head of the British Army warning that handing the nation’s security brief to a politician without defence experience risks weakening Britain’s military leadership.
Lord Dannatt, the former Chief of the General Staff, said he was “very disappointed” by the decision, arguing that defence is too complex a department to be handed to a minister who has not spent years preparing for the role.
Speaking to LBC, Lord Dannatt criticised the decision to move defence leadership once again, warning that Streeting lacked the background needed to navigate the challenges facing the armed forces.
“To move Defence Secretary again and put someone like Wes Streeting in who doesn’t have a background in defence, doesn’t understand defence, hasn’t been shadowing it, will be a real retrograde step,” he said.
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The appointment comes at a critical moment for Britain’s military, with the armed forces facing pressure to rebuild capability, increase spending and meet ambitious NATO commitments amid growing threats from Russia and wider global instability.
Lord Dannatt argued that Dan Jarvis, who has defence experience and military service behind him, would have been better suited to the role, provided he received the necessary financial backing.
“Dan Jarvis could do a really good job, but he’s got to be given the funds,” he said.
He also warned that the government must honour its NATO commitments, including plans to increase defence spending towards 3.5 per cent of GDP by 2035.
The criticism highlights one of the first major tests for Burnham’s new administration as it attempts to reshape government priorities while maintaining confidence among Britain’s allies and armed forces personnel.
Defence has become an increasingly demanding portfolio, requiring ministers to balance long-term military investment with immediate operational pressures, from supporting Ukraine to strengthening NATO’s eastern flank.
Lord Dannatt pointed to the contrast with previous defence ministers, arguing that experience matters when dealing with military strategy, procurement decisions and international commitments.
“Defence is a complex portfolio. It takes time to understand it,” he told LBC. “He’s got no background in it. Dan Jarvis has got a very good background in it. John Healey had experience in that role.”
Streeting’s appointment will now face scrutiny from military leaders, opposition MPs and Britain’s allies, with questions likely to focus on whether political experience can compensate for a lack of direct defence knowledge at a time of heightened security risks.
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