Biggest defence and security review in decades is struggling to get off the ground
Prime Minister, Boris Johnson’s much-vaunted defence and security review is descending into chaos, in large measure because of the incoherence at the heart of government.
According to the Times newspaper, the chaos has intensified since the departure of Christopher Brannigan, the defence lead at Downing Street’s policy unit.
Brannigan left last week, in large measure because of the lobbying of the PM’s highly controversial chief strategist, Dominic Cummings.
The foreign policy, defence and security review under consideration is part of Jonson’s plan to conduct the most sweeping review of the UK’s defence capabilities since the conclusion of the Cold War three decades ago.
The PM first announced the intention to conduct the review during campaigning for last December’s general election.
The Times reports that since the Tories’ election victory, “disagreements” have erupted over appointments to key panels and timetables.
The news paper quotes a source as claiming: “There are a series of rows and some nasty internal politics that have raged over the forthcoming integrated review”.
Another source told the newspaper that there is uproar about a series of “has-beens” who have been appointed to the review.
Meanwhile, the Times defence editor, Lucy Fisher (the author of the report), has tweeted that a “Whitehall source” is complaining about the possibility of the review not being sufficiently focused on foreign policy.
A Whitehall source warns that “there will be limitations on the review if it doesn’t remain foreign policy-focussed” and added that it was “in danger” of becoming a budgetary exercise in which cuts are levied.
— Lucy Fisher (@LOS_Fisher) February 22, 2020
In another tweet, Fisher quotes Lord Alan West, the former chief of the Royal Navy, who has hawkish views on defence and foreign policy, complaining about a “nasty atmosphere” at Number 10 Downing Street.
Lord West, ex-Navy chief, warns: “There’s a nasty atmosphere at the moment from No 10. The spads advising seem terrified. It’s worrying to hear a senior defence aide has been sacked”
— Lucy Fisher (@LOS_Fisher) February 22, 2020
Sir Mike Graydon, ex-RAF chief, warns “To do the job properly, you’ve got to consult, consider“ pic.twitter.com/UVicRD65mT
Lord West’s complaint is presumably a thinly veiled reference to the maverick and disruptive Cummings.
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