‘It’s beyond embarrassing, it’s dangerous’: why Britain must fund defence | Sir Richard Barrons

‘It’s beyond embarrassing, it’s dangerous’: why Britain must fund defence | Sir Richard Barrons

Britain’s defence review is now a year old – but the government is still arguing over how to pay for it. John Healey, the (now former) defence secretary, has resigned over the failure to set out an adequate plan to meet the need to modernise our armed forces.

General Sir Richard Barrons, one of the architects of the Strategic Defence Review, joins Coffee House Shots to explain why the funding row is about more than budgets. He warns that Britain’s armed forces have been hollowed out after decades of cuts, that modern war is moving at the speed of AI and that Russia does not need to invade Britain to threaten daily life.

Is Britain ready for the next war? What happens if America no longer comes to Europe’s defence? And has the political class failed to explain the scale of the danger?

Tim Shipman speaks to General Sir Richard Barrons.

Produced by Oscar Edmondson.

Become a Spectator subscriber today to access this podcast without adverts. Go to spectator.co.uk/adfree to find out more.


For more Spectator podcasts, go to spectator.co.uk/podcasts.


Contact us: podcast@spectator.co.uk

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Denne episoden er hentet fra en åpen RSS-feed og er ikke publisert av Podme. Den kan derfor inneholde annonser.

Episoder(3311)

Is Britain ungovernable?

Is Britain ungovernable?

We are on course for yet another prime minister – our seventh in just ten years. With statistics like that, and after watching the now-familiar pattern of leaders arriving with promises of hopeful cha...

27 Jun 14min

Would Burnham be 'Labour's first female PM'?

Would Burnham be 'Labour's first female PM'?

Another agenda-setting cover piece from Tim Shipman has ruffled feathers in Westminster. The controversy centres on a line from a senior Labour source who told Shippers that Andy Burnham could be ‘Lab...

26 Jun 16min

How to solve Britain’s maternity crisis

How to solve Britain’s maternity crisis

Donna Ockenden's report on Nottingham NHS maternity scandal is out today, revealing 'horrendous' failings. It involves cases of negligence, cover ups, racial disparities and avoidable deaths. To discu...

24 Jun 22min

Kemi Badenoch’s victory lap

Kemi Badenoch’s victory lap

Supercharged by a by-election victory in Aberdeen South and Starmer’s resignation, Kemi Badenoch delivered a drive-by at PMQs today. She took aim at members of Starmer’s cabinet in succession: Rachel ...

24 Jun 14min

Does Burnham have a plan? (No)

Does Burnham have a plan? (No)

Andy Burnham is back in Westminster, Sir Keir Starmer has resigned and Wes Streeting has said he will not contest the leadership election. Labour rebels will be celebrating that their plan has gone of...

22 Jun 18min

It's over – Keir Starmer resigns

It's over – Keir Starmer resigns

It’s over. Sir Keir Starmer has finally done the deed and quit. After years spent berating the Tories for constantly changing leader, fighting among themselves and looking inwards, Labour has succumbe...

22 Jun 14min

Isabel Hardman's Sunday Roundup - 21/06/2026

Isabel Hardman's Sunday Roundup - 21/06/2026

Isabel Hardman presents highlights from Sunday morning's political shows.Keir Starmer is on the brink. Is he announcing his departure on Monday?Become a Spectator subscriber today to access this podca...

21 Jun 17min

Why Makerfield changes everything | Tim Shipman, James Lyons, Luke Tryl & Michael Simmons

Why Makerfield changes everything | Tim Shipman, James Lyons, Luke Tryl & Michael Simmons

Andy Burnham has won what may come to be seen as the most consequential by-election in recent memory. Political journalism has a tendency towards hyperbole, but the situation is clear: Burnham is on h...

19 Jun 34min

Populært innen Politikk og nyheter

giver-og-gjengen-vg
aftenpodden
aftenpodden-usa
fotballpodden-2
forklart
stopp-verden
popradet
det-store-bildet
rss-espen-lee-usensurert
nokon-ma-ga
lydartikler-fra-aftenposten
dine-penger-pengeradet
rss-gukild-johaug
hanna-de-heldige
rss-penger-polser-og-politikk
rss-ness
aftenbla-bla
frokostshowet-pa-p5
e24-podden
rss-utenrikskomiteen-med-bogen-og-grasvik