Gov't must commit to a headline figure of 3% of GDP on #defence by 2030, and set a timeline to meet #NATO's new 5% GDP target. This cannot be fudged. As Gen Carter says, it's unnacceptable for ministers & mandarins to be "unable" or "unwilling" to make sufficient funds available.

Gen. Dannatt is right, but he & other fmr service chiefs have been issuing these warnings for some time- and were ignored. After the principled resignations of defence ministers @JohnHealey_MP & @AlistairCarns, it really is time for Whitehall to wake up and confront the reality.

Russia's shadow fleet is reacting to the seizure by British forces directed by @Keir_Starmer this morning. AIS data shows multiple sanctioned tankers altering course and turning away from UK waters in the hours since UK @Commando_Ops stormed and seized the SMYRTOS.

I am grateful to the UK for taking this important step against Russia’s oil fleet – a shadow fleet tanker has been detained off the UK's southern coast. It was Russia’s hubris, fueled by high oil and gas revenues, that paved the way for this war, and every decision by partners that deprives Russia of money also limits the war itself. I thank @Keir_Starmer and all Britons for such principled resolve. And Europe urgently needs to take legislative steps to enable not only the detention of tankers and restrictions on oil shipments, but also the confiscation of the oil they carry. This will certainly help bring peace closer.

An outstanding effort by our Royal Marines. Professional, courageous and surgical in prosecution. Huge respect to the Commando Force, always delivering for the security of the nation. Go Commando—-always🫡 First of many I hope.

Watch: Royal Marine Commandos board the sanctioned Russian shadow fleet tanker SMYRTOS in the Channel, in the first UK-led operation of its kind, backed by HMS Sutherland, HMS Ledbury and an RAF P-8. The vessel is now held off the south coast as investigations continue.

BREAKING: There were 25 crew members of various nationalities on board the Russian shadow fleet vessel that was intercepted by UK forces in the Channel, according to Lieutenant Colonel Tom Quinn, Commanding Officer, 42 Commando. They are "in the care" of the National Crime Agency

Overnight, Royal Marines Commandos of the @RoyalNavy were involved in the interception of a shadow fleet vessel. They were supported by @HMSSutherland, @HMSLedbury and the Maritime Air Group. Mission success thanks to the skills, bravery and professionalism of our people.

Royal Marines board Russian shadow fleet oil tanker in English Channel bbc.co.uk/news/articles/clye…

Keir Starmer's government is in free fall. The only person celebrating this omnishambles is Russian President Vladimir Putin. Al Carns has shown true grit and followed Healey to the door. Men of honour @JohnHealey_MP @AlistairCarns #UKdefence #DIP dailymail.com/news/article-1…

As well as a defence secretary and an armed forces minister, Sir Keir Starmer has also lost two parliamentary private secretaries at the Ministry of Defence. MPs Pamela Nash and Rachel Hopkins had been ministerial aides to John Healey

The focus today is on defence funding. It's clearly mental the PM won't cut welfare to fund our military. But don't miss what Carns says about Northern Ireland. The Government's Troubles Bill will see veterans dragged through the courts. If they had any shame, they'd scrap it.

The Defence industry trade body Make UK Defence says John Healey's resignation should be "a wake-up call for those inside Government still blocking the acceleration of defence investment". Click image for more. ukdefencejournal.org.uk/?p=6…

Sky's security and defence editor @HaynesDeborah examines the significant repercussions of Defence Secretary John Healey's resignation. Latest: trib.al/8gwGWfO

Big Al can still throw a hand grenade or two…

On the Healey resignation, he was outmanoeuvred by the @hmtreasury, but he did the right thing in the end. @AlistairCarns has now joined him. Both resigned because they refused to defend the indefensible: the continued run-down of our armed forces given the current danger, and, in particular, @Keir_Starmer and @RachelReevesMP refusal to fund the critical Defence Investment Plan with anything like the sums needed. Starmer enjoys parroting the phrase ‘country before party’. But in reality we have scarcely seen a more obvious case of a man putting party before country. The Defence Investment Plan needed £28billion merely to fulfil current commitments. Yet the Ministry of Defence is likely to receive a mere £18billion, perhaps as little as £15billion. This is not ‘investment’ - it is cuts. And the reason for this is obvious: the government’s insatiable addiction to welfare spending net zero foreign aid. #government #defence

The twerps and the spinners in no.10 cant help it. Almost immediately they are out claiming “the biggest increase since the cold war” and “we are spending 2.6% of GDP on defence in 2027”. Those two “lines to take” are the problem. Dishonest and misleading in order to avoid the reality of spending real funds to keep us safe.

Russian aggression against Nato is at record levels, the Ministry of Defence has warned Downing Street amid a row about defence spending. Defence bosses have raised concerns that Russian jets and drones violated Nato airspace more last month than at any other time this year, in a rising pattern of incursions by Vladimir Putin’s forces. 🔗: telegraph.co.uk/politics/202…

'What is the danger we won't be able to fulfil our commitments to NATO?' - @skynewsSam 'The first problem is that we have signed incredibly ambitious targets' - Matthew Savill, Director of Military Sciences at RUSI Latest 🔗 trib.al/kL1cwHr 📺 Sky 501

Former head of the British army Lord Dannatt says Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves are "failing to keep us safe." "Whoever takes over the post of defence secretary will inherit the same situation that John Healey has." @JPtweets