UK lacks plan to defend itself from attack, warn MPs

"The challenges facing the government and defence industry were laid bare in a stark report from the Commons defence committee about the UK's ability to fight a war and meet its Nato obligations in light of Russia's war in Ukraine. The UK lacks a plan for defending the homeland and overseas territories, the MPs said as they called for the public to be given more information about the scale of the threat and the response that is required."

"[Vladimir] Putin's brutal invasion of Ukraine, unrelenting disinformation campaigns and repeated incursions into European airspace mean that we cannot afford to bury our heads in the sand. He added: We have repeatedly heard concerns about the UK's ability to defend itself from attack. Government must be willing to grasp the nettle and prioritise homeland defence and resilience. In achieving this, government cannot shy away from direct engagement with the public."

"At least 13 sites across the UK have been identified for new factories to make munitions and military explosives, with the defence secretary, John Healey, expecting the arms industry to break ground at the first plant next year. In a speech in London on Wednesday he will say the new era of threat presents an economic opportunity with at least 1,000 new jobs to be created."

MPs warned that the UK lacks a plan to defend itself from a military attack, including protection of the homeland and overseas territories. A Commons defence committee expressed concerns about the UK's ability to fight a war and meet Nato obligations given Russia's invasion of Ukraine. MPs called for clearer public information on the scale of the threat and the response required. The committee urged prioritisation of homeland defence, resilience and direct engagement with the public. The government identified at least 13 potential sites for munitions and energetics factories, with the Defence Secretary expecting construction next year and the MoD funding feasibility studies for domestic high-volume production.

Read at www.theguardian.com