EXCLUSIVE: Former Defence Minister James Heappey claimed that the UK looked unserious as it attempts to lead the fightback against Russia.
Sir Keir is set to step down in a fortnight (Image: Getty)
Government infighting that has led to the resignation of Sir Keir Starmer is making the UK “look ridiculous” as it tries to lead European efforts to deter Russia. Former Defence Minister James Heappey warned that a war in Europe and Russian expansionism required a stable and effective Government to help lead Europe’s response, a feat hindered by the imminent installation of a seventh prime minister in just over a decade.
Andy Burnham is widely expected to move into 10 Downing Street next week, although little is known about his approach to defence and geopolitics. Heappey told the Daily Express that responsibility for the instability of the Government lies with both Labour and the Conservatives. He said: “Andy Burnham could turn out to be Churchillian. We just don’t know. I hope he does, because while I’m not actively in politics anymore, the one thing I do know is that I now do a lot of business internationally, and the UK comes across as really unserious.
Heappey warned that a revolving Downing Street door makes the UK look unserious (Image: Getty)
“We’ve changed our prime minister too many times in the last 10 years. Most of that is a consequence of my party being fractious, but now Labour are copying the behaviour.
“We look ridiculous to the rest of the world, and the geopolitical moment, the scale of the threat, demands something a bit better.
“For all that, I would far rather see a right-of-centre Government in power than a left-of-centre Government — I’d rather see us tax less, have a smaller state, fiscal responsibility and whatever else — more than anything, I just want to see the UK look a bit more serious, a bit more stable, and stop changing prime minister every three seconds.
The Government’s approach to defence has been characterised by one of “dither and delay” by critics, with the Shadow Defence Secretary James Cartlidge accusing the Government of prioritising welfare over defence in the recently released Defence Investment Plan (DIP).
Despite falling £13bn short of the sum required by defence chiefs and needing £5bn found in the next budget, Heappey was sympathetic to the challenges faced by the MOD and the Government and praised the “brave choices” it included.
Despite acknowledging that the sum invested in defence is not enough, he added: “What I would applaud is that, in recognising that it is not enough — and the Government has recognised that — they’ve had to make some choices around what to disinvest in, and those choices are bloody brave.”
“It’s a really big choice to deprioritise the next wave of destroyers and frigates in favour of this sort of autonomous system,” he added in reference to the decision to phase out Type 45 Destroyers. “You get a bigger lethality gain from that. But you can’t wish away that you’re still going to need the bigger stuff as well.”