Episode
‘Not ready for war’: Can Starmer protect the UK?
- Podcast
- In The Room
- Published
- Apr 17, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 2412
- Processing state
not_requested- Canonical source
- https://shows.acast.com/intheroom/episodes/9-not-ready-for-war-can-starmer-protect-the-uk
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Summary
In the midst of the US-Iran war, Lord Robertson, former Labour defence secretary and NATO chief, didn’t hold back this week. With local elections looming, the Labour grandee stepped into the defence debate, warning the UK is “not safe” and “underprepared” for war. But how much of that falls on Starmer’s government - and how much is the result of years of neglect of Britain’s core military strength: ships, drones, and troops? Since the 2017 Manchester Arena bombing, the UK has stopped 39 late-stage terror plots. So why does our security look strong, while our defence appears exposed? And what, exactly, is the difference? Find the best clips from the podcast and more from Helen and Cleo on the show's Instagram page here . This podcast is part of The Independent Podcast Network and is produced in association with Next Chapter Studios Executive Producers: Olivia Foster and Carrie Rose Producer: Sam Durham Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.