By GB News (Politics) | Created at 2024-11-24 13:39:25 | Updated at 2024-11-24 16:28:18
2 hours ago
A former MI6 chief has expressed deep concerns about Labour's approach to defence and national security, particularly criticising what he called "mad" energy policies.
Speaking to GB News, Sir Richard Dearlove said he was "deeply worried about aspects of this new Government".
The ex-MI6 chief blasted Energy Secretary Ed Miliband's policies and Foreign Secretary David Lammy's potential role in international relations.
He said: “She certainly should. But having heard her interviewed earlier in the week, she clearly hadn't a clue what to say. She ducked and weaved.
He shared deep concerns about Labour's approach to defence
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He added: “What I'm really concerned about is the defence budget.
"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.
“We've just seen them cut various military equipment to make a saving.
"Okay, they're saying it's outdated, but you don't do that when you are threatened by probably the worst security situation in Europe.
Keir Starmer is the Prime Minister
PA
“Look, for someone like me, I mean, this may upset a lot of people, this is as important, perhaps more important, than the National Health Service. It should be absolutely at the top of the Government's priorities and it isn't.
“This also bleeds into our energy policy, because that's a vital part of national security and you've got Ed Miliband following a completely crazy energy policy. I mean, mad energy policy.
"We have our own energy resources. We need to develop our independence, we should, I'm afraid, be thinking about things like fracking.
“We should be thinking about how we're going to maintain cheap energy supplies for ourselves on the basis of the resources that we own and control. Look, this is a complicated issue but I think we need to be pretty clear cut and simple about it.”
He insisted defence "should be absolutely at the top of the government's priorities and it isn't"
GB News
He insisted defence "should be absolutely at the top of the Government's priorities and it isn't".
Dearlove also cast doubt on Lammy's ability to maintain the special relationship with America under Donald's Trump presidency.
"I'm not sure Lammy is going to be best friends with him. There'll be other people who'll be interlocutors with Trump," he told GB News.
The former MI6 chief suggested Lammy's past comments about Trump could be problematic.
"Lammy has got a lot of baggage," he argued. "He'll be part of the special relationship, but in my guess he won't be a particularly important part of it."
