A major rift between the MoD and Downing Street has blown open today as defence figures are unable to go on record at a major RUSI conference. The latest development in a tense cold war between the two departments…
Guido hears from multiple high level defence sources that the gagging order was delivered directly from Downing Street under the direction of strategic communications boss James Lyons. Insiders say that the MoD’s communications chief Simon Enright has “completely lost the fight with Lyons” – now the MOD has had its marching orders from Downing Street. The MOD permanent secretary David Williams has stayed quiet internally, sources say – offering no communication on the new and unprecedented gagging order. The position is unsustainable as senior chain of command figures have always had freedom to voice their views in public, unrestricted by politicians, it’s a good thing for defence…
There was a bitter briefing exchange after Starmer declined to set out a path to 3% spending on defence – this is an element of the fallout. Will end in fireworks…
Tom Baldwin, author of Starmer’s hagiography, spoke to Times Radio:
Tom Baldwin: “I think he’d like to do something. He’s very dutiful and driven by service. That’s why he came into politics. I think that’s characterised his time as prime minister. He hasn’t always sought popularity or been good at being popular. But I think he has some of the necessary qualities that we actually do want in a prime minister. That resilience, that relentlessness, that ability to carry the weight and the job really does weigh very heavily on people and he carries that weight very, very well.”
Jo Coburn: “NATO Secretary-General?”
Tom Baldwin: “I think that’s something that he would be interested in. I think it probably requires Andy Burnham’s government to support him in that and these are some of the questions which Andy Burnham has to resolve quite quickly.”