US delivers ultimatum to UK: spend more on defence and maintain global presence. thesun.co.uk/news/6671656/a… Obviously leaked by @GavinWilliamson in battle with Hammond 1/~
2/~ UK clearly needs to spend more on defence. But to remain a Tier 1 military power it needs to remain a Tier 1 economy. Brexit is gonna tank investment and geopolitical clout - hence US move to France as £1 ally (if Gavin's leak is to be belived)...
3/ ~ Meanwhile May has vetoed publication of interim SDSR. Probably because it's a) yet again useless b) costs too much...
4/~ In a democracy we would now ask: what is our strategy? How much can we afford and what are the economic multipliers of defence spending and the social multipliers of a military with high social legitimacy...
5/~ Instead we are bogged down in Cabinet infighting with Pentagon calling shots on key bits of capability they need because they can't provide it themselves...
6/~ Labour should adopt v clear strategic line: yes to 2+ % of GDP for defence. Yes to protecting/promiting UK defence manufacturing. Yes to a high-value growing economy that can support Tier 1 capabilities....
7/~ but there has to be a serious debate about "global reach". UKAF should be defending / deterring in Europe and North Atlantic. Tory current policy is a conceit. One frigate in the Pacific does not equal global reach.
8/~ Commons defence committee full of nodding dog Atlanticists. This is an open goal for Labour: commit the money, the growth and demand an evidence based debate on the threat + force structure.
9/~ Short summary. The Tories have eviscerated UK defence spending and have no strategic concept, so Mattis is imposing one, but they can't afford it and are leaking like f*** to destroy each other. Only a week until Chequers. ENDS
