A cross-party group of MPs has issued a stark warning, accusing the UK government of moving at a "glacial pace" to develop a crucial national plan for defending the country from foreign attack.
A System Failing to Keep Pace with Threats
The Defence Select Committee's report, published on Wednesday 19 November 2025, delivers a damning assessment of the nation's war-readiness. It states that cross-government work on homeland defence and resilience is "nowhere near where it needs to be" and describes official decision-making as "slow and opaque."
This criticism comes despite repeated government acknowledgements that the UK faces significant threats from hostile states like Russia and China. The report highlights a particular failure to meet the UK's fundamental commitment to NATO under Article 3, which requires members to maintain the capacity to resist an armed attack.
Public Engagement Falling Short
The committee also raised serious concerns about the government's communication with the British public. It noted that there has been no visible sign of a promised "national conversation on defence and security" that was launched by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer back in June.
Labour MP Tan Dhesi, the chair of the committee, emphasised the importance of public involvement. "Wars aren't won just by generals, but by the whole of the population," he said. "There needs to be a co-ordinated effort to communicate with the public on the level of threat we face and what to expect in the event of conflict."
This lack of engagement was seemingly demonstrated when journalists, including a team from Sky News, were blocked from interviewing sailors on the Royal Navy's flagship aircraft carrier, HMS Prince of Wales, just days before the report's publication.
Supporting Evidence and Government Response
The MPs' findings lend real-world weight to a recent Sky News and Tortoise Media podcast series, The Wargame, which simulated a Russian attack on the UK and explored the potential consequences of having no credible national defence plan.
The report's publication coincided with an announcement from Defence Secretary John Healey, who revealed that 13 sites across the UK have been identified as potential locations for at least six new weapons factories. He described this as part of a strategy to make "defence an engine for growth" and to ensure the UK is "better ready to fight and better able to deter future conflicts."
However, the committee's overarching message remains one of urgent caution, pointing to a critical gap between the government's recognition of new threats and the tangible, swift action required to address them.
