Tories pledge £10bn 'Britannia Shield' air defence system
The Conservatives said their plan would protect the UK at a time when Nato allies have warned of Russian drone incursions.
The Conservative Party has unveiled plans for a £10bn "Britannia Shield" to protect Britain from missile attacks, according to Kemi Badenoch, the party's spokesperson on defence. The proposed investment, to be spread over a decade, would bolster radar, command, and interceptor missile systems to safeguard British infrastructure and military bases.
This proposal is modeled after Israel's successful "Iron Dome" system, which has been protecting the nation from Iranian missiles. Currently, the Defence Investment Plan allocates less than £1bn for missile systems, a figure that the Conservatives believe is inadequate. The surge in cheap drones in conflict zones, particularly in the Middle East and Ukraine, has prompted the need for a more robust missile defense system. Party officials argue that the threat is real and Britain must be prepared.
Shadow Defence Secretary James Cartlidge is expected to announce the full interceptor system in his speech, asserting that it is "totally necessary." A recent report from the Defence Select Committee highlighted the UK's inadequate missile defense capabilities, stating that the nation has "next to nothing" in this area. The Conservatives have been pushing Chancellor John Healey to increase defense spending, aiming for the sector to reach three percent of GDP by 2030.
This proposal would require substantial reallocation of funds, including cuts to housing, child benefits, and investments from the National Wealth Fund and the British Business Bank. Healey has indicated that he will present a roadmap for defense spending during next year's Spending Review. The Chancellor faces pressure to find additional funds to maintain departmental budgets without resorting to significant cuts in other sectors like healthcare or justice.
Healey's resignation from the Labour government earlier this year was due to the previous administration's reluctance to clarify their commitment to meeting NATO targets, despite a pledge to raise military spending to three percent.
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