Britain is not prepared to defend itself from an attack, a major new report has warned.
The Commons Defence Committee has concluded that the Government is moving at a "glacial" speed in response to the threats of Russia and China.
The 11-month-long inquiry said that Britain was struggling to meet its defence obligations under Nato Article 3, which requires member states to “maintain and develop individual and collective capacity to resist armed attack”.
The major report noted that the UK had "next to nothing" with its integrated air and missile defence systems and “lacks a plan for defending the homeland and overseas territories”.
The Commons Defence Committee concluded that the Government was moving at a 'glacial' speed
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Defence Committee chairman Tan Dhesi warned politicians not to bury "their heads in the sand" over the issue.
The Labour backbencher said: “We have repeatedly heard concerns about the UK’s ability to defend itself from attack.
"The Government must be willing to grasp the nettle and prioritise homeland defence and resilience.”
As part of the inquiry, MPs heard evidence from senior military figures and defence experts and conducted visits at Nato sites across Europe.
Tan Dhesi warned politicians not to bury 'their heads in the sand'
| PADefence Minister Luke Pollard told the Defence Committee: “I think we have been very clear that we are not satisfied with Article 3 in the UK.
"But, equally, I think that is a position that every European Nato member state is clear on as well.”
The report comes just months after Sir Keir Starmer vowed to increase defence spending to 3.5 per cent of GDP and the announcement of the Strategic Defence Review, which the Prime Minister says will transform Britain's Armed Forces.
And now, the former head of the British Army, General Lord Dannatt, has said he hoped the inquiry's findings served as a "wake up call" to politicians.
BRITAIN'S ARMED FORCES - READ THE LATEST:
General Lord Dannatt said he hoped the inquiry's findings serve as a 'wake up call'
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He said: “We have piled risk on risk over the years, taken too many peace dividends since the end of the Cold War and we now stand in grave danger from Putin’s Russia.
“The time to act is now. We are in the last chance saloon.”
Shadow Defence Secretary James Cartlidge said: “The defence select committee has exposed the hollowness of Labour’s defence rhetoric.
“Instead of prioritising defence readiness, the only pace Labour have shown is when it comes to surrendering the Chagos Islands and putting the British Army back in the dock.
“Labour’s policy documents have all been published far later than promised and their Strategic Defence Review won’t deliver until the 2030s.
“Meanwhile their own Defence Readiness Bill hasn’t even got a timetable and could be years away.
“Warfare is changing rapidly but Labour are moving far too slowly.”
A spokesman for the Ministry of Defence said: “Later today the Defence Secretary will outline his plans to bolster the UK’s warfighting readiness, keeping Britain secure at home and strong abroad.
“This includes identifying multiple sites across the UK for new factories to make munitions and military explosives as we move to the next phase of building factories of the future.
“Choices taken by the Chancellor at the upcoming Budget will ensure no return to the hollowed out and underfunded Armed Forces of the past, as we continue the biggest sustained increase in defence spending since the Cold War, allowing us to invest in the modern capabilities to keep the country safe.”
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