Sir Richard Dearlove, a former head of MI6, has criticized Labour's defence spending cuts, stating they pose a risk to national security and lack urgency in addressing international crises.
A former MI6 spy chief has accused Labour of putting national security at risk following its 'deeply worrying' cuts to defence spending. Sir Richard Dearlove, who was head of MI6 between 1999 and 2004, has claimed the new Labour government is showing no urgency in the face of international crises. Sir Richard said: 'I'm deeply worried about aspects of this new Government, particularly when it comes to national security – and these are ultimately issues of national security.
'We're in a state of international crisis. We have a defence review, but there's no urgency at all on the Government's part.' He has urged Labour to treat the defence budget as 'important, perhaps more important' than the NHS. Sir Richard's most recent intervention before yesterday's came in 2019 when he said then-Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn was a danger to national security and unfit to lead the country. He also took aim at Home Secretary Yvette Cooper who the spy chief accused of not 'having a clue' on whether she would rule out arresting Mr Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, after the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant. Last week, the ICC, based in The Hague, issued an arrest warrant for the Israeli prime minister over the Israel-Hamas conflict. Sir Richard Dearlove, who was head of MI6 between 1999 and 2004, has claimed the new Labour government is showing no urgency in the face of international crises. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer with the Chancellor Rachel Reeves. Sir Richard has urged Labour to treat the defence budget as 'important, perhaps more important' than the NHS. Nuclear submarine HMS Vanguard arrives back at HM Naval Base in Scotland. Sir Richard's intervention comes after yesterday the Mail revealed that almost a tenth of Labour's £2 billion cost-cutting plans target the Ministry of Defence
NATIONALSECURITY LABOUR DEFENCESPENDING MI6 INTERNATIONALCRISIS
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