Former military chief warns Burnham must ‘not lead a wartime cabinet that weakens our defences’

A former head of the Armed Forces has issued a stark warning that Britain faces a dangerous defence gap as the next Prime Minister prepares to inherit a military under growing pressure.

The scale of Britain’s defence challenge has been laid bare after one of the country’s most senior military figures warned that the next government will face a security environment more dangerous than at any time in decades.

Admiral Sir Tony Radakin, who served as Chief of the Defence Staff from 2021 to 2025, warned that the Prime Minister is effectively entering a “quasi-wartime” role as Europe faces war, hybrid attacks, instability in the Middle East and the growing risk of wider conflict.

His warning comes as the long-awaited Defence Investment Plan prepares to be published, with questions mounting over whether the spending package will be enough to rebuild Britain’s military capability.

The former defence chief said the threats facing the UK are accelerating — but warned the response from government does not match the seriousness of the situation.

Sir Tony wrote in the Sunday Times that “war in Europe, hybrid attacks at home, crisis in the Middle East and the risk of conflict means the Prime Minister is in a quasi-wartime role.

He warned that Andy Burnham must “not lead a ‘wartime’ cabinet that weakens our defences at a time of increasing danger.”

The concerns were echoed by Colonel Simon Diggins, the former defence attaché to Kabul, who delivered a brutal assessment of the state of Britain’s armed forces.

He warned that the UK currently faces major capability gaps, including a lack of new warships and limited protection against missile threats.

“We have no new frigates being planned now,” he said, warning that the Army also faces significant shortages.

He highlighted Britain’s lack of a large-scale air defence system comparable to Israel’s Iron Dome or Ukraine’s ability to intercept incoming attacks.

The warning comes as defence analysts increasingly focus on the changing nature of warfare, where drones, cyber attacks, missiles and infrastructure protection are becoming central to national security.

Colonel Diggins said Britain must urgently strengthen its resilience, including energy security, cyber protection and industrial capacity to produce military equipment if a major conflict breaks out, he told Sky News.

The debate comes at a critical moment for the incoming government, with defence expected to become one of its biggest strategic tests.

Supporters of increased spending argue that decades of reduced investment have left Britain vulnerable at a time when Russia’s war in Ukraine has transformed European security.

Critics warn that announcements on drones and emerging technology cannot replace traditional military capabilities needed to defend the country.

The central question facing the next Prime Minister is whether Britain can rebuild its armed forces quickly enough — or whether years of delayed decisions have left the country exposed.

As global tensions rise, military chiefs are warning that the cost of preparation may be high.

But the cost of being unprepared could be far greater.