UK is not ready for Russia threat, says ex MI6 chief

A stark new review has found that Britain is not ready for war, warning landing on the same morning the Government unveiled fresh plans to boost the nation’s defences.

This morning, Defence Secretary John Healey unveiled a major £1.5bn investment in 13 new UK munitions factories, a bid to ramp up Britain’s defence industry as global threats escalate.

The announcement came as Healey revealed that a Russian intelligence-gathering ship, the Yantar, has been skirting the edge of UK waters north of Scotland, allegedly firing lasers at RAF surveillance pilots and mapping Britain’s undersea cables. “My message to Russia and to Putin is this: we see you… and we are ready,” he said.

All this lands as MI5 issues fresh warnings about Chinese espionage. Following the collapse of the case against two men accused of spying for Beijing, security officials have now named two Chinese state-linked ‘recruiters’ using LinkedIn to target Westminster insiders.

Camilla and Tim discuss the future of Britain’s defence with the former head of MI6, Sir John Sawers, as they ask him about China, the failure of the Prevent anti-terrorism scheme programme and why he thinks Russia is the greatest threat to this country.

Producer: Georgia Coan

Senior Producer: John Cadigan

Video Producer: Will Walters

Studio Operator: Meghan Searle

Executive Producer: Charlotte Seligman

Social Producer: Nada Aggour

Editor: Camilla Tominey

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