MPs say Britain lacks readiness, resources and civil defence for modern military threats

The United Kingdom lacks a credible plan to defend itself or its overseas territories from a military attack, according to a highly critical report from Parliament’s defence committee. The cross party group said the country was far from meeting its stated commitments, particularly at a time of what it described as significant security threats to Europe.

After an inquiry lasting almost a year, MPs concluded that the UK had not achieved the level of readiness expected of a Nato member and was falling short of the leadership role it claimed to hold within the alliance. The report was released on the same day that the Ministry of Defence confirmed possible locations for new munitions factories intended to enhance the country’s ability to produce key weapons and supplies.

In June, the Defence Secretary, John Healey, set out plans to shift the UK towards what he called war fighting readiness. The government committed one and a half billion pounds to support the construction of new munitions facilities, with private contractors due to play a central part in the work. However, the committee said progress remained slow and that the UK and its European allies continued to rely too heavily on the United States for core military functions.

The chair of the committee, Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi, said Russia’s invasion of Ukraine illustrated the scale of the threat. He pointed to repeated airspace incursions and disinformation campaigns as warning signs that the UK must take seriously. He added that witnesses throughout the inquiry had raised concerns about the country’s ability to withstand a direct attack.

The report called for the government to speed up industrial transformation and make readiness a national priority. It criticised Europe’s dependence on American capabilities in areas such as intelligence gathering, satellite technology, strategic airlift and refuelling. MPs warned that the UK possessed almost no integrated air and missile defence, leaving both military sites and civilian populations vulnerable to the growing use of drones and other emerging technologies.

Civil defence and national resilience also came under scrutiny. The committee described the pace of improvement as glacial and said the government risked failing to meet its Nato obligation to maintain the ability to resist armed attack. The report urged ministers to improve communication with the public and to ensure that citizens understand the seriousness of the threat environment as well as the expectations that would arise during a conflict.

Dhesi said that victory in war depended not only on military leaders but on public engagement and support. He encouraged the government to be more transparent about future risks and to prepare the population for any potential national emergency.

Earlier this year, the government confirmed that defence spending would increase to three percent of gross domestic product by 2034 at the latest. Healey is expected to outline next steps in a speech on Wednesday, including the revival of domestic production of energetics. These materials, which include explosives, propellants and pyrotechnics, have been sourced from abroad for two decades. The Ministry of Defence has identified thirteen possible locations for factories, with at least six expected to be operational before the next general election.

Three potential sites have been named in Scotland, located in Dumfriesshire, Ayrshire and Grangemouth. Eight sites have been put forward in England, located in Teesside, Cumbria, Shropshire, Cheshire, Derbyshire, Essex, Worcestershire and Hampshire. Two sites in Wales, situated in Monmouthshire and Milford Haven, are also under consideration.

Healey will also confirm the opening of two new drone manufacturing centres this week in Plymouth and Swindon. He is expected to say that the government intends to use defence investment to support skilled employment and economic growth while strengthening the country’s ability to deter future conflict.