The UK does not have a coherent strategy to protect itself from a military attack, according to a stark warning from MPs, who say the government must urgently strengthen homeland defence at a time of heightened global instability. The Commons defence committee, in a detailed new report, said both ministers and the defence industry face serious challenges in ensuring Britain can respond to major threats and meet its Nato obligations amid Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine.
The committee concluded that “the UK lacks a plan for defending the homeland and overseas territories,” urging the government to be more transparent with the public about the scale of the threat and the national effort required to confront it. The report also calls for clearer national messaging on security, warning that public understanding is crucial if the UK is ever faced with a conflict scenario.
Committee Chair: Britain “Cannot Bury Its Head in the Sand”
Committee chair Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi said the UK must adapt to a sharply deteriorating security climate, citing Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, large-scale disinformation operations, and repeated incursions into European airspace. He noted that defence experts have repeatedly raised concerns about Britain’s ability to withstand an attack and urged the government to prioritise resilience at home.
He stressed that national security requires public involvement, not just military leadership: “Wars aren’t won just by generals.” He added that there must be a coordinated national effort to communicate the realities of modern threats, and to prepare the population for what to expect if the UK were to enter a conflict.
Government Plans New Arms Factories Across the UK
In response to rising security concerns, the government is preparing a major expansion of domestic defence manufacturing. Defence secretary John Healey will announce on Wednesday that at least 13 sites across the UK have been shortlisted for new factories that will produce munitions and military explosives, with construction expected to begin next year.
Healey will frame the “new era of threat” as both a national security requirement and an economic opportunity, saying the expansion will create at least 1,000 jobs. The Ministry of Defence has already funded feasibility studies for a new generation of energetics factories — facilities that produce critical components such as explosives, pyrotechnics and propellants — marking the UK’s return to large-scale domestic production after nearly twenty years.
Potential locations for these “factories of the future” include Grangemouth in Scotland, Teesside in north-east England and Milford Haven in Wales. Healey will argue that rebuilding Britain’s defence industrial base represents a “fundamental shift” from years of declining investment in industrial heartlands.
£1.5bn Defence Boost and New Drone Factories
The MoD has committed £1.5bn in additional investment for energetics and munitions since June. Before the next election, the government aims to build at least six new munitions and energetics factories, alongside two new drone manufacturing sites opening this week in Plymouth and Swindon.
Healey will describe the strategy as turning defence into “an engine for growth”, safeguarding British skills and strengthening the country’s readiness to deter future conflicts. He said next week’s budget will ensure the armed forces do not return to the “underfunded” state of previous years.
Starmer Meets EU Leaders on £132bn Defence Fund
The developments come as Prime Minister Keir Starmer travelled to Berlin for dinner with German chancellor Friedrich Merz and French president Emmanuel Macron, where they discussed European security and Britain’s possible involvement in a €150bn (£132bn) European defence fund. The meeting signals a renewed effort to deepen UK-EU defence cooperation following years of reduced collaboration after Brexit.
The UK’s defence readiness has been under intensified scrutiny throughout 2024 and 2025, with senior military figures warning about munitions shortages, recruitment challenges, and an overstretched armed forces. Nato allies have also urged Britain to accelerate defence spending in light of escalating tensions across Europe, the Middle East and the Indo-Pacific. The new parliamentary report reinforces those concerns and places additional pressure on the government to deliver rapid improvements.
