Britain wouldn’t be able to defend itself against an Iranian missile, a former defence secretary has chillingly warned.
Ben Wallace, who was in charge of the Ministry of Defence between 2019 and 2023, lashed out at Labour ministers for ‘trying to play down’ the threat posed by Tehran.
As part of retaliatory action against American and Israeli strikes, Iran last month targeted the joint US-UK military base in the Chagos Islands.
Two ballistic missiles were fired at the strategically-vital base on Diego Garcia, the largest of the Indian Ocean islands, but one failed and one was shot down.
Israel later claimed Iran had been attempting to develop missiles capable of reaching European such as London, Paris and Berlin.
The Government insisted there was ‘no specific assessment’ that Iran was targeting the UK, or that it possessed long-range missiles that could reach London.
But Sir Ben said it was ‘not correct’ to state that Iran would be unable to hit the UK, as he urged ministers to ‘level with the public’ that Britain faces a Cold War-like scenario.
He added the UK wouldn’t be able to defend itself against an Iranian strike ‘at the moment’, while he also criticised a delay to Labour’s plan to put Britain on a ‘war footing’.
‘I give an example of a threat that the Government doesn’t want you to know about or talk about,’ Sir Ben told Times Radio.
‘You covered a few weeks ago that the Iranians fired two missiles towards Diego Garcia and then a minister appeared on your show trying to play down that any ranges within the UK were unrealistic.
‘That’s not correct. The Iranians took two boosters – Salman boosters from the space programme – added it to their existing missiles and have now been able to produce missiles with ranges that could hit Britain in the future.
‘And, if it’s not Iran, the point is that the technology of range is now allowing ranges to grow.’
Asked if the UK would be able to take out an Iranian missile fired at Britain, Sir Ben replied: ‘No we wouldn’t, not at the moment.’
The ex-Tory Cabinet minister also referred to reports that proposals to put Britain’s critical infrastructure and industries on a war footing have been delayed until at least next year.
The Defence Readiness Bill, which Labour previously promised would ‘come some time at the beginning of 2026’, aims to improve the preparedness of key industries and give the Government powers to mobilise industry at the outbreak of a conflict.
The legislation was recommended by the Strategic Defence Review last year, but The Times reported it is not expected feature in the King’s Speech next month, which will set the agenda for the next session of Parliament.
Sir Ben said: ‘I’m not saying that if my government had stayed in power everything would be perfect. Not at all.
‘I would have probably been still battling with successive chancellors and prime ministers for more funding.
‘But you cannot pause the momentum of going up because, if you do, what happens is you stop being able to defend yourself. But it’s the bigger point.
‘It’s the point about this [Defence] Readiness Bill – levelling with the public that we’re going to have to think differently, think in some areas a bit like the Cold War-era where we all had… every county council had a nuclear bunker.
‘Everyone was prepared, the civilian society was prepared. Ex-soldiers like me would have been a reservist, would have been called up.
‘All of that discussion needs to happen with the public.’
Tan Dhesi, the Labour chairman of the House of Commons’ Defence Select Committee, said the delay to the Defence Readiness Bill was similar to the wait for the defence investment plan – a long-delayed plan which will set out how the armed forces will order new equipment for war.
The repeated delays risk ‘sending damaging signals to adversaries and allies’, the senior Labour MP said.
Mr Dhesi added: ‘In this era of geopolitical tension and conflict, the Ministry of Defence needs to start moving much, much faster.’
James Cartlidge, the Tory shadow defence secretary, said it showed that ‘Labour’s dither and delay on defence goes from bad to worse.’
He added: ‘At a time of war on multiple fronts and when our adversaries are rearming at a frightening pace, Labour are moving far too slowly.’
A Government spokesman said: ‘National security is our first duty, and we have the resources we need to keep the UK safe from attacks, whether it’s on our soil or from abroad.
‘We’re constantly hardening and sharpening our approach to homeland security, backed by the largest sustained increase in defence spending since the end of the Cold War, making the UK well able to respond to the threats we face.
‘We don’t comment on speculation regarding the King’s Speech.’
