Here they go again. Last month, Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Knighton notified a House of Lords Committee that our armed forces would be depleted and become dysfunctional unless defence spending is increased.
I found the demand galling. Globally, the UK is already among the top 10 defence spenders. The Ministry of Defence guzzles public funds and expects never to be scrutinised or criticised.
This was the silent promise made to the armed forces after the end of the Second World War. They saved us from Hitler; we must forever be in their debt. Decades later, the department has fallen into disorder and chaos, incompetence and excess, yet an unholy alliance of politicians, their advisers, journalists, policy wonks and futurists habitually and uncritically transmit the messages of the top brass, condemning as unpatriotic those of us who argue that this sector needs reform and economic discipline.
The Royals were once similarly protected by the establishment. Until Charles, then Diana, laid open the truths of their blighted marriage, the fantasies of perfect happiness in golden palaces kept the masses loyal and happy. In the past 25 years, sections of the media and population have lost deference. You do get cloying adoration from royal correspondents, but real investigations too.
A few bold public figures are now breaking the code of reverence and calling out military leaders and government ministers. Here is Sir Simon Jenkins, author and former editor of The Times, expressing pretty radical views recently: “Britain should spend less on defence. It is a waste of money and should be reduced so more could be spent on supporting employment, welfare and growth. Why is there no such debate? Why should ‘defence’ be awarded an almost religious invulnerability?”
It shouldn’t. Time to lose the faith and get real.
Lets start with the misuse of tax revenues. A dossier compiled by Labour in 2022 accused the MoD of squandering £13bn since 2010. No project was expected to be on time or within the original budget; £4.8bn was handed out for cancelled contracts. An RAF project was £325m over budget and 28 months late. And so on and on. Imagine the screeches of right-wing commentators if this happened in the Department for Work and Pensions.
Next, the use of fear when getting approval for massive military spending. Or shock and awe action. They did this in Iraq, Afghanistan and Libya. Countless deaths. Millions of pounds squandered. All three countries more inimical to the West than ever. Now, we are told that Vladimir Putin will take over these isles and China will overwhelm us. These malevolent nations can do us some harm. But no, like Jenkins, I do not believe they will be in our skies any time soon.
On to arms makers and traders. Back in 1961, US president Dwight D. Eisenhower warned that the “military-industrial complex” had too much influence in US government circles. His concerns were limited to the West. But vendors of killing machines are now in every nation on Earth. Uganda, my old country, which has deep poverty in some parts and big problems caused by global warming, is spending recklessly on weapons. Why? Because all the other African countries are doing the same. Same as all western, eastern and southern states.
We come to mutual advantages. A brilliant investigation by Prospect Magazine found “a revolving door between private defence companies and the UK government and military officials”. Examples cited included a special adviser, who in August 2023, left the Ministry of Defence to become director of strategic engagement at a German defence firm. Meetings between the company and department reps followed. A factory was later opened in Plymouth.
Prospect identified “more than 120 applications by former senior military officers, civil servants and politicians to take paid positions with firms either directly holding MoD contracts or bidding for them”. No rules were broken. But these practices don’t seem honourable to me.
John Healey, now Chancellor and one of the compliers of the 2022 Labour dossier quoted above, concluded back then that “The Ministry of Defence is a uniquely failing department.”
Yet now, PM Andy Burnham pronounces that “increasing our national security, in every sense, will be my first priority” and promises transparency and accountability. In his dreams, he sees weapons manufacturing leading to a new dawn of reindustrialisation and growth. Defence Secretary Wes Streeting is on side. Defence spending will not be cut. Benefits cuts are so much less trouble.
So, as with all British governments, warfare wins; welfare loses. And our high hopes for ethical governance are dashed.
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