Keir Starmer ‘not being honest’ about state of UK armed forces warn top military chiefs

Sir Keir Starmer is not being honest with the British public when it comes to defence spending, former military chiefs have claimed in a scathing open letter. In a scathing open letter, retired Army head Gen Lord Dannatt, former Navy chief Adml Lord West, ex-MI6 boss Sir Richard Dearlove, and others—including three ex-defence secretaries and SAS veteran Andy McNab—claimed the Prime Minister and his Government are “in denial” about the military’s dire state. 

They urged an immediate surge in defence spending to 5% of GDP, far beyond Sir Keir’s targets, to address a £28bn budget shortfall that threatens national security. The signatories, spearheaded by the group Defence on the Brink, wrote: “We don’t think our Government is being honest with the British public.”

They argued that funding pressures, including pay rises for troops, soaring inflation, and delayed projects, are forcing the Ministry of Defence (MoD) to slash capabilities rather than expand them.

Furthermore, the letter claimed the military had been “hollowed out by years of chronic underfunding” and that the UK now “lacks the mass, readiness and resilience” to stand up to Russian aggression.

The letter highlighted the Army’s shrinkage to just over 70,000 full-time soldiers—its smallest in over 200 years—and the Navy’s precarious hold. Current fleet head Gen Sir Gwyn Jenkins admitted: “We are holding on, but not by much.”

The criticism comes amid stalled talks between Chancellor Rachel Reeves and the MoD, which is demanding extra cash to plug the gap. Reports on Monday suggested Sir Keir might accelerate spending to 3% of GDP by 2029, following his Munich speech in which he vowed “we are going to have to spend more, faster” on defence.

But Downing Street swiftly backtracked, insisting the reports were misinterpreted, as Treasury sources cited fears of higher taxes or welfare cuts.

Defence officials expressed frustration at the disconnect between No. 10’s rhetoric and Ms Reeves’ refusal to reopen last June’s spending review. Instead, her team has ordered the MoD to find funds internally. Ministers are exploring an international “defence bank” for low-rate borrowing with Nato allies, but critics dismiss it as inadequate.

Lord West, a Labour peer and ex-security minister, told The Telegraph: “Keir Starmer needs to put his money where his mouth is. Clearly, the Treasury doesn’t want to increase spending at the speed it is needed.”

He accused Ms Reeves of ignoring the “parlous state” of the military amid an “extremely dangerous” world, warning that political distractions like by-elections are eclipsing existential threats, including the potential for a world war.

Lord Dannatt echoed the call, demanding Sir Keir “exert his authority” and prioritise action over words: “This is a real test of his leadership.”

The letter timed its release ahead of the fourth anniversary of Russia‘s Ukraine invasion, stressing the UK’s lack of “mass, readiness and resilience” to deter Moscow. It warned that the £28bn hole—nearly half the MoD’s annual budget—leaves forces “under-equipped and overstretched,” failing NATO obligations and inviting exploitation by adversaries.

Chief of the Defence Staff Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Knighton recently briefed Sir Keir on the shortfall, urging “hard choices” as Russia’s military pivots westward.

A Government spokesman defended Labour’s plans: “The Prime Minister has made a historic commitment to spend 5% of GDP on defence and security from 2035… We are delivering the largest sustained increase in defence spending since the Cold War.” They cited an extra £5bn this year, £270bn over the parliament, and pay hikes for personnel, rejecting any return to past neglect.

However, with warnings of imminent Russian conflict, the chiefs’ plea underscores mounting pressure on Sir Keir to match tough talk with urgent cash—or risk Britain’s defences crumbling further