Indeed, Sir Keir would do well to heed the warning of none other than Lord Robertson, the former Nato secretary general, whom the Prime Minister has appointed to lead Labour’s defence review.
Britain and its allies are facing a “deadly quartet” of China, Russia, Iran and North Korea who are acting together against the West. Robertson said last week that we have “got to be able to confront that particular quartet”. Military experts believe that the four are increasingly sharing arms, components and military intelligence.
To be able to meet this danger head-on, surely the sensible course of action would be for us to make sure Britain has the most cutting-edge hardware available, something the Tempest programme promises to deliver in spades.
The RAF jet is armed with hypersonic missiles and Star Wars-style “energy-directed” weapons. It is also kitted out to help pilots evade enemy radar, providing 10,000 times more data than current systems. Experts say it will revolutionise air-to-air combat, giving Britain a “world-beating” edge in warfare.
Yet the future of Tempest has never been more uncertain. Labour has sought to present itself as being serious about defence, chiefly with its commitment to honouring Rishi Sunak’s pledge to up spending from 2.3pc of economic output to 2.5pc – Starmer has said it is a “cast-iron” commitment.
The truth is, however, that it is a heavily caveated promise that should be taken with a massive pinch of salt.
The first giant red flag is that Labour won’t set out a timetable for doing so. John Healey, the Defence Secretary, hasn’t ruled out waiting until the defence review has concluded, which could take up to a year. The Government has also said it will not increase spending on the military unless it is also able to grow the economy.
The lack of urgency is terrifying, and will only fuel concerns that Labour cannot be trusted to keep the country safe at a time when national security has never been more critical.