IN 1962, Dean Acheson, a former US Secretary of State, in a speech at the American military academy West Point, summed up Britain’s dilemma with remarkable perspicacity.

“Britain has lost an empire and has not yet found a role.”

There was a furious reaction in Britain, because his remark was so obviously true it hit home.

And if the current tussle in the British government about defence expenditure is anything to go by, Acheson’s observation still remains true.

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Starmer told the cabinet (it used to be ‘his’ cabinet) on Tuesday that what used to be his government would be taking no more major decisions that had financial consequences except for the Defence Investment Plan, which had caused his former Defence Secretary and Armed Forces Minister to resign.

Apparently he wants raising the defence budget towards 2.5% of GDP by 2027, the biggest rise since the end of the Cold War, to be part of his legacy.

Both the MoD and, naturally, the military, think it falls short by about £15 billion. They wanted £28bn but Starmer is sticking at £13bn.

It may be one of the elements in Starmer’s legacy but if it is, it’s one which exhibits his weakness, timidity and failure to........

© The Irish News