A retired Royal Navy commander has criticised Sir Keir Starmer, accusing him of taking a “slow” and “frustrating” approach to UK defence policy.
Speaking to GB News, Tom Sharpe OBE said the Ministry of Defence had been allowed to “descend into farce,” pointing to recent resignations and ongoing uncertainty around spending decisions.
After John Healey and Al Carns stepped down earlier this week, the newly appointed Defence Secretary has called on the Government to “meet the moment” and step up military investment. Writing in The Telegraph, he said the current security situation demands urgency and strong leadership from ministers.
Sharpe warned that Britain had become too “dependent” and “vulnerable,” arguing that years of outsourcing had weakened resilience. He added that recent geopolitical shocks linked to Iran were likely only the beginning of wider pressures still to come.
He also criticised the pace of reform, saying the Government had been in office for over two years without delivering meaningful change. He pointed to the long-running defence review process, questioning why it took so long and arguing that delays had left the system in disarray.
According to Sharpe, defence spending risks becoming trapped in internal government disputes unless there is clearer direction from the Prime Minister. He urged ministers to prioritise funding more effectively and stop what he described as a “tug-of-war” between departments.
He said the system needed a fundamental overhaul, describing it as outdated, slow-moving, and resistant to change. In his view, defence operations must be modernised and streamlined if Britain is to respond to growing threats.
Responding to questions about funding, Sharpe argued that increasing defence spending from around 2.3% to 3.5% of GDP should be achievable through efficiencies and better organisation, rather than simply cutting services elsewhere.
He insisted there were “many ways” to find the money within existing systems, claiming defence itself contains significant waste. Without reform, he warned, the country’s security risks would continue to rise, regardless of political views on the level of threat.
