Former Navy chief warns of maritime threat to UK security

Needs of today have to be balanced with demands of tomorrow, House of Lords told

HMS Portland, bottom, tracks the Russian warship Admiral Gorshkov and tanker Kama as they sail in international waters close to the UK on January 11. PA

The UK government should not overlook the maritime threat to the UK’s security and must boost funding to all three branches of the Armed Forces, a former Navy chief has warned.

The British Army, Royal Navy and RAF have been underfunded for years, said Lord Alan West of Spithead, who was First Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval Staff from 2002 to 2006.

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace admitted on Monday that the Army had been “hollowed out”, after claims from an American general that the UK was no longer a top-tier fighting force.

“No matter how it’s dressed up, it is quite clear — because even the government’s admitted it, the Secretary of State’s admitted it — that we have underfunded our Armed Forces and that they are hollowed out," Lord West told the House of Lords.

“Can I ask the minister, will we ensure that all three services actually have an increase in spend?

“Because, for example, although there’s a lot of talk about the Army, there is no doubt that there is a maritime threat too.

“One looks at the undersea cables, one looks at the huge growth in the Russian submarine force — and that all three services must be looked at and there is an absolute need to invest now.”

British Army’s new Apache attack helicopters undergo test flights – in pictures

One of the British Army's new AH-64E Apache attack helicopters goes on display at Wattisham Airfield, in Suffolk, eastern England. All photos: PA

UK Minister for Defence Procurement Jeremy Quinn MP gets a tour of the cockpit of the AH-64E Apache, which is made by US aviation company Boeing.

The AH-64E, which detect 256 potential targets simultaneously and prioritise threats in seconds, is undergoing test flights with the British Army.

Boeing has delivered 14 AH-64E Apaches to Wattisham. The manufacturer says the AH-64E will be in production until at least 2028, and serve as the world’s primary attack helicopter into the 2060s.

30mm ammunition and 70mm rockets for the AH-64E.

The new Apache can detect targets up to a range of 16 kilometres.

Defence minister Baroness Annabel Goldie responded: “I hold the noble lord in very high regard. What I do not hold are the purse strings of government.

“But he makes a consistent message that I’m sure is resonating beyond this chamber.

“This government is responsible for a record-breaking finance settlement for defence — the biggest since the Cold War.

“And I think it should be acknowledged that we have made a serious attempt to address what has been a hollowing-out process over many years.”

Former head of the Armed Forces Lord Jock Stirrup said the government must “strike an appropriate balance between ambition and resource”.

“Since virtually all spending reviews since the Cold War have been reductions in defence expenditure, that’s not a very high bar to clear,” the independent peer said.

UK Defence Secretary Ben Wallace - in pictures

UK Defence Secretary Ben Wallace, centre, at Manchester airport in December meeting members of the military covering for striking Border Force officers. AP

Mr Wallace gives interviews after viewing Ukrainian troops performing exercises at a military centre in south-east England, in November. Getty Images

Mr Wallace watches Ukrainian soldiers take part in a military exercise in the north of England in November. Getty Images

Mr Wallace sells poppies to members of the media as he leaves a Cabinet meeting in Downing Street in November. Getty Images

Mr Wallace speaks at the annual Conservative Party conference in October. Getty Images

Mr Wallace and former chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng arrive for the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II at Westminster Abbey in September. PA

Then Conservative leadership hopeful Liz Truss and Mr Wallace visit an engineering company in Huddersfield ahead of a hustings event in August. Getty Images

Mr Wallace speaking to new recruits to the Ukrainian army being trained by UK armed forces personnel in Manchester, in July. PA

Mr Wallace and Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy after a meeting in Kyiv, in June. Reuters

US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin, right, with Mr Wallace during an honour cordon ceremony at the Pentagon in May. AP

Former prime minister Boris Johnson and Mr Wallace onboard HMS Dauntless in Merseyside, in March. PA

Mr Wallace hosting a meeting of the Joint Expeditionary Force Defence Ministers at Belvoir Castle in February. AFP

Mr Wallace and Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu shake hands during their February meeting in Moscow. EPA

Baroness Goldie replied: “He may consider it not a very high bar. I think it’s a higher bar than any of the other bars that have been set and I think the facts speak for themselves.

“The challenge for defence is we have to balance the operational and remote resource demands of today with the overarching vision to modernise to meet the demands of tomorrow.

“We are confident within the [Ministry of Defence] that we can reconcile these conflicting tensions.”

Former Army officer Lord Andrew Robathan said he welcomed Mr Wallace’s comments and that he had realised “what a sad state the Army is in”.

“I hate agreeing with the Labour side, but we do know that a great more money needs to be spent on defence," the Conservative peer said.