Shadow Defence Minister James Cartlidge has issued an urgent call for the Government to boost defence spending and place immediate procurement orders to replace weapons supplied to Ukraine.
Speaking on GB News, Cartlidge emphasised the pressing need to replenish the UK's military stocks, instead of negotiating a peace deal with Europe.
"We in the UK need to get on with increasing defence spending. There's no use talking about it," he said.
The Shadow Defence Minister stressed that the Government has been delaying action for months.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has been accused of 'wasting months' by not replacing Britain's weapons that were sent to Ukraine
GB News / Reuters
"We have been waiting months now for them to get on with that, and I would urge them to start increasing spending and placing the procurement orders we need so that we can start replenishing the munitions, those we've given to Ukraine," Cartlidge said.
"Ukraine must be a principal voice in these negotiations. It's absolutely critical. They are the country that was invaded without provocation, who has suffered so much and shed so much blood.
"When we were in Government, we stood by Ukraine at the outset of the invasion by Russia."
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Sir Keir Starmer has called for Europe to “take responsibility” for its securityREUTERSHe pointed out that British weapons supplied before the invasion may have been crucial to Ukraine's survival.
"We provided them with weapons and munitions, even before the invasion, which, if we had not done so, they may well have fallen and been fully conquered," Cartlidge said.
Cartlidge warned that delays in placing orders for crucial military equipment could have serious implications.
"If you place an order today for missiles like Storm Shadow, they don't suddenly appear, it can take a few years," he explained.
The Shadow Defence Minister expressed frustration over what he sees as unnecessary delays in procurement. "We've wasted months, the Government has wasted months not placing those orders," he said.
Cartlidge told GB News that Labour must 'get on with it' rather than discussing peace talks
GB News
Cartlidge questioned the Prime Minister's recent emphasis on defence and security matters. Speaking on GB News Breakfast with Eamonn Holmes and Ellie Costello, he expressed scepticism about this newfound focus.
"Your viewers at home, they will be slightly surprised to hear the Prime Minister suddenly so keenly talking about defence spending and security in Europe," he said.
"What we've seen is a rush to do things like the Chagos deal, which undermine our security and, to date, lots of prevarication on higher defence spending.
"Hopefully now, the Prime Minister has woken up to the scale of the threats we face."
