'It's offensive!' Keir Starmer scolded by ex-soldier for 'acting tough' on Britain's defence: 'Pathetic'

Hitting out at Defence Secretary John Healey's inability to disclose the cost of Britain's new Aukus submarines, Seely fumed: "It’s pretty pathetic, and it's par of the course for the Government, sadly.

"And John Healey, to his credit, is one of the better, or less useless ministers, so if he doesn't even know, it's no wonder that people like Rachel Reeves and all the others like Lucy Powell sound so much worse."

The former soldier also criticised Starmer's military appearances, given his professional background.

He told GB News: "I personally find it offensive the way that Keir Starmer dresses up in a uniform and looks like he's acting tough.

"This is a man who spent his political career and legal career being on the left of British politics, or taking our nation to court, and supporting people, very often former terrorists, terrorist sympathisers and people who wish this country harm, and he's been their lawyer through thick and thin."

Seely also condemned the Government's handling of the Chagos Islands treaty, which he claims will cost £9billion.

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Seely stated: "The Chagos deal is one of the most disastrously stupid things this Government is doing, and that's certainly saying something.

"We don't have to spend £9billion giving the Chagos to Mauritius. All we have to do is say, ‘actually, we're keeping it’, and we could be spending that £9billion on a lot of other things, whether it's winter fuel, whether it's supporting pensioners, whether it's supporting schools or indeed supporting defence."

The former Tory MP also criticised the Government's approach to defence spending and deterrence: "The reality is that deterrence is expensive, but it is always cheaper than fighting.

"And the fact is, we're now spending a lot of money arming Ukraine because deterrence has not worked because Putin thought we were weak. He didn't think we'd defend or support the Ukraine, and he didn't think the Ukrainians were going to fight."

In a pointed criticism against Starmer, Seely claimed: "If he understood our deterrence, and if he was deterred, we wouldn't be in the mess we're in now, and hundreds of thousands of people wouldn't be dying on the other side of Europe.

"I think Keir Starmer is one of the worst Prime Ministers in history, and I think Kemi’s a good leader. As a soldier, I personally find it offensive the way that Keir Starmer dresses up in a uniform and looks like he's acting tough."

Seely expressed support for military recruitment initiatives aimed at school leavers, despite Labour's previous criticism of similar Conservative proposals.

He concluded: "I do support it, because I loved my time in the Army. And if I had my time again, I would do it properly and I’d join the Army at a much younger age. I nearly did it when I was 18, then decided not, and I think it's a great career. And actually I really recommend it. Likewise the RAF and Navy.

"If we can draw people in, I think they'll find it structured and exciting, it's got some discipline and you do adventure training. And you actually learn pride in yourself and pride in your country and we don't have enough of that at the moment, so that bit works."