Legislation designed to mobilise British industry and critical national infrastructure in the event of war has been shelved until at least next year, raising fresh concerns about the nation’s preparedness amid heightened global threats. The Defence Readiness Bill, which ministers had earmarked for introduction in early 2026, is now not expected to appear in the government’s legislative agenda set out in the King’s Speech on 13 May.
Expert Warnings Over ‘Damaging’ Delays
The postponement has drawn immediate criticism from defence experts and politicians who warn it signals a lack of urgency. Tan Dhesi, the Labour chairman of the Commons Defence Select Committee, said there were direct parallels with another long-delayed strategy, the Defence Investment Plan (DIP). That ten-year equipment funding blueprint, originally due in Autumn 2025, has been repeatedly pushed back, causing what industry groups describe as financial paralysis, with some firms “bleeding cash” and facing closure.
Mr Dhesi warned that the cumulative effect of such delays risks “sending damaging signals to adversaries and allies”. He stated, “In this era of geopolitical tension and conflict, the Ministry of Defence needs to start moving much, much faster.” The government’s immediate legislative focus is instead on the Armed Forces Bill, currently before the House of Commons, which renews the Armed Forces Act 2006 and covers the Armed Forces Covenant and disciplinary systems.
The Stark Reality of Military Capability
The delay coincides with a bleak assessment from a former top military commander about the current state of the armed forces. General Sir Richard Barrons, who co-authored a strategic defence review, warned last week that the British Army is so depleted it could only “seize a small market town on a good day”. He told the BBC that none of the services could do “anything substantial” independently and that they could only make a “very small contribution” to a US or NATO-led operation.
General Barrons specifically highlighted the UK’s inability to meet its NATO pledge to provide a strategic reserve corps of 30,000-50,000 troops, citing a critical lack of equipment, training, and logistical support. This aligns with concerns raised by Mr Dhesi over systemic procurement failures, with the Defence Select Committee noting that only two out of 49 major defence programmes are on time and on budget.
Spending Pledges and Strategic Gaps
The government has made significant spending commitments in response to these challenges. It has pledged to increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027—a target brought forward from 2030—with an ambition to reach 3% in the next parliament. Following a revised definition in February 2025 that includes security and intelligence agencies, the UK is projected to spend an estimated 2.6% of GDP on defence by 2027. The long-term ambition is to reach 3.5% by 2035, as part of a broader national security goal to allocate 5% of GDP by that date.
This increase is being partly funded by cutting overseas development aid from 0.5% to 0.3% of Gross National Income. Ministers argue the investment will drive economic growth and innovation. However, the continued delay of the Defence Investment Plan is stifling the industry it is meant to support, putting the UK at a competitive disadvantage against allies like Germany and the United States in attracting global defence investment.
Further capability gaps have been identified, including in the UK’s homeland air defence, where calls have been made for a distinct British system despite existing NATO integration.
Geopolitical Pressure and Government Response
The legislative delay unfolds against a volatile international backdrop marked by the ongoing conflict in Iran and strained transatlantic relations. US President Donald Trump has directly criticised the UK and other allies for refusing to join US strikes on Iran, telling them to “get your own oil” and “start learning how to fight for yourself”. He has also threatened to pull the US out of NATO, which he labelled a “paper tiger”.
In response to regional threats, the UK deployed the warship HMS Dragon to the eastern Mediterranean after an Iranian-made missile launch at a UK base in Cyprus, though the government has stated it will not permit its bases to be used for offensive strikes against Iran. Other European nations, including France and Greece, were noted to have deployed protective forces to Cyprus more swiftly.
When questioned on the delay to the Defence Readiness Bill, a government spokesperson said: “National security is our first duty, and we have the resources we need to keep the United Kingdom safe from attacks, whether it’s on our soil or from abroad. We’re constantly hardening and sharpening our approach to homeland security, backed by the largest sustained increase in defence spending since the end of the Cold War, making the UK well able to respond to the threats we face. We don’t comment on speculation regarding the King’s Speech.”
