Defence chief has ‘serious’ talks with PM and chancellor in face of cash squeeze and Ukraine war

Published

3 years ago

November 14, 2022

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The head of the UK’s armed forces and the defence secretary have held “serious” talks with the prime minister and chancellor about the need to invest in defence at a time of war in Europe despite grave economic pressures at home.

Admiral Sir Tony Radakin told Sky News’ Sophy Ridge on Sunday programme that Rishi Sunak “absolutely” understood the UK cannot have economic stability without security – and that comes at a price.

But he would not be drawn on whether he and Ben Wallace had managed to secure an extra £8bn over the next two years – the amount needed to protect their budget and modernisation plans from inflation and a weak pound.

The military is vulnerable to foreign exchange rates because much of its kit is purchased from overseas.

In a wide-ranging interview to mark Remembrance Sunday, the chief of the defence staff also said:

• A decision by Russia to withdraw its troops from the southern Ukrainian city of Kherson was a “significant” moment of failure for President Vladimir Putin
• The UK does not see that “we are on a pathway” to Russia using a nuclear weapon in Ukraine
• There was a particular poignancy about Remembrance Day this year because Europe once again had war on its soil and because of the death of the Queen – “another loss of a Second World War veteran”

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt is due to deliver his autumn budget on Thursday and is expected to set out tax rises and spending cuts to fill a multibillion-pound hole in the government’s finances.

With the Ministry of Defence – like all other departments – under pressure to cut costs, Admiral Radakin said “numerous” conversations have been had over the past fortnight about the security situation in Europe and globally.

Speaking in an interview that was recorded on Friday, he told Sky News: “We specifically had an hour with the prime minister and the chancellor – and I accompanied the defence secretary – to talk about what would be the impact of a financial settlement and – to the richness and the seriousness of that conversation – recognising that this war in Europe is part of the reason why we have the level of inflation that we have and why we have the economic pressure.

“Therefore, in trying to deal with the economic pressure, we need to acknowledge that at its core is this security pressure in Europe.

“The government is having the right level of conversation to try and manage that, but also manage the security situation into the future.”

‘You’re seeing Russia fail’

Asked if the government recognised there cannot be economic stability without security and therefore defence needs to be invested in fully, the defence chief said: “Absolutely”.

Part of the discussion was looking at what changes need to be made to a sweeping integrated review of defence, security and foreign policy that was published last year.

Admiral Radakin, who led the Royal Navy before being promoted to head of the armed forces in 2020, said they were looking at what might need to be adjusted in light of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine “and that might mean in the longer term more investment”.

He batted away any suggestion he might resign if the armed forces did not receive the funding it needs in the immediate term.

He said: “I think we’ve got to be really cautious of the risk of being a bit too shrill in saying what if this happens, then … this person is going to resign. I’m much more in the space of: the right conversations are being had. Let’s wait and see what the autumn statement says.”

Turning to Ukraine’s success in recapturing Kherson city, the only provincial capital that had been seized by Russia during nearly nine months of full-scale war, the military chief said: “I think it’s significant in the sense that once again, you’re seeing Russia fail.”

But he cautioned against declaring the win to be a turning point in the war.

‘It’s always a special day’

He said: “We’ve got to be careful of jumping to: This is a big moment and this means that we’re closer to the end… I think what it leads to is continued messiness, a protracted conflict where Ukraine is being supported by an international community and has the courage and determination and ingenuity to fight for its survival. And that’s going to win out.”

As for the prospect of Russia, backed into a corner, resorting to a nuclear strike, Admiral Radakin said: “That would be another total horrific step and we don’t see that we’re on a pathway to that particular spectre.”

Admiral Radakin also paid tribute to the late Queen as the nation marks Remembrance Sunday without her for the first time.

He said: “I think there’s a special poignancy this year with both the loss of Her Majesty – another loss of a Second World War veteran.

“I also think it is poignant when we have, once again, the spectre of war in Europe and all that that entails – a country that’s being invaded and is fighting for its freedom.

“So, it’s always a special day. It feels especially so this year.”

World

‘Nobody likes Trump’: Sky News finds defiance on the streets of Tehran

Published

11 hours ago

July 5, 2025

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'Nobody likes Trump': Sky News finds defiance on the streets of Tehran

To the sound of mournful chants and the slow beat of drums, they march, whipping their backs with metal flails.

It is an ancient ceremony going back almost 14 centuries – the Shia commemoration of Ashura.

But this year in particular has poignant significance for Iranians.

The devout remember the betrayal and death of the Imam Hussein as if it happened yesterday.

We filmed men and women weep as they worshipped at the Imamzadeh Saleh Shrine in northern Tehran.

The grandson of the Prophet Muhammad was killed by the armies of the Caliph Yazid in the seventh century Battle of Karbala.

Shia Muslims mark the anniversary every year and reflect on the virtue it celebrates – of resistance against oppression and injustice. But more so than ever this year, in the wake of Israel and America’s attacks on their country.

The story is one of prevailing over adversity and deception. A sense of betrayal is keenly felt here by people and officials.

Many Iranians believe they were lured into pursuing diplomacy as part of a ruse by the US.

Iran believed it was making diplomatic progress in talks with America, which it hoped could lead to a deal. Then Israel launched its attacks and, instead of condemning them, the US joined in.

“Death to Israel” chants resounded outside the mosque in skies that for 12 days were filled with the sounds of Israeli jets.

There is a renewed sense of defiance here.

One man told us: “The lesson to be learned from Hussein is not to give in to oppression, even if it is the most powerful force in the world.”

A woman was dismissive about the US president.

“I don’t think about Trump. Nobody likes him. He always wants to attack too many countries.”

Pictures on billboards nearby link Imam Hussein’s story and current events. They show the seventh century imam on horseback alongside images of modern missiles and drones from the present day.

Other huge signs remember the dead. Iran says almost 1,000 people were killed in the strikes, many of them women and children.

Officially Iran is projecting defiance, but not closing the door to diplomacy.

Government spokeswoman Dr Fatemeh Mohajerani told Sky News that Israel should not even think about attacking again.

“We are very strong in defence, and as state officials have announced, this time Israel will receive an even stronger response compared to previous times. We hope that Israel will not make such a mistake.”

But there is also a hint of conciliation. Senior Iranian officials have told Sky News back-channel efforts are under way to explore new talks with the US.

Israel had hoped its attacks could topple the Iranian leadership. Those hopes proved unfounded. The government is in control here.

For many Iranians it seems quite the opposite happened – the 12-day war has brought them closer together.

World

Two security workers injured after grenades thrown at aid site, Gaza Humanitarian Foundation says

Published

14 hours ago

July 5, 2025

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Two security workers injured after grenades thrown at aid site, Gaza Humanitarian Foundation says

Two American security workers in Gaza were injured after grenades were thrown during food distribution in Khan Younis, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) has said.

In a statement, the US and Israeli-backed aid group said a targeted terrorist attack was carried out at one of its sites in southern Gaza on Saturday morning.

The two Americans injured “are receiving medical treatment and are in stable condition,” it said, adding that the delivery of aid was “otherwise successful” and that “no local aid workers or civilians were harmed”.

GHF didn’t say exactly when the incident happened but claimed Hamas was behind the attack, adding: “GHF has repeatedly warned of credible threats from Hamas, including explicit plans to target American personnel, Palestinian aid workers, and the civilians who rely on our sites for food.

“Today’s attack tragically affirms those warnings.”

Later, the aid group posted a picture on social media, which it said showed “fragments of a grenade packed with ball bearings” that was used in the attack.

Asked by Sky’s US partner network, NBC News, whether the two injured individuals were responsible for handing out aid or were responsible for providing security, GHF said they were “American security workers” and “two American veterans.”

The aid group did not provide specific evidence that Hamas was behind the attack.

The US and Israeli-backed group has been primarily responsible for aid distribution since Israel lifted its 11-week blockade of the Gaza Strip in May.

It comes after Sky News analysis showed GHF aid distributions are associated with a significant increase in deaths in Gaza.

According to Gaza’s health ministry, 600 Palestinians have been killed while seeking aid from GHF sites as of 3 July, which charities and the UN have branded “death traps”.

Meanwhile, the Associated Press has reported that Israeli-backed American contractors guarding GHF aid centres in Gaza are using live ammunition and stun grenades.

GHF has vehemently denied the accusations, adding that it investigated AP’s allegations and found them to be “categorically false”.

Israel’s military added that it fires only warning shots and is investigating reports of civilian harm.

It denies deliberately shooting at any innocent civilians and says it’s examining how to reduce “friction with the population” in the areas surrounding the distribution centres.

World

Hamas gives ‘positive’ response to ceasefire proposal but asks for amendments

Published

20 hours ago

July 5, 2025

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Hamas gives 'positive' response to ceasefire proposal but asks for amendments

Hamas has said it has “submitted its positive response” to the latest proposal for a ceasefire in Gaza to mediators.

The proposal for a 60-day ceasefire was presented by US President Donald Trump, who has been pushing hard for a deal to end the fighting in Gaza, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu set to visit the White House next week to discuss a deal.

Mr Trump said Israel had agreed to his proposed ceasefire terms, and he urged Hamas to accept the deal as well.

Hamas’ “positive” response to the proposal had slightly different wording on three issues around humanitarian aid, the status of the Israeli Defence Forces inside Gaza and the language around guarantees beyond the 60-day ceasefire, a source with knowledge of the negotiations revealed.

But the source told Sky News: “Things are looking good.”

Hamas said it is “fully prepared to immediately enter into a round of negotiations regarding the mechanism for implementing this framework” without elaborating on what needed to be worked out in the proposal’s implementation.

The US said during the ceasefire it would “work with all parties to end the war”.

A Hamas official said on condition of anonymity that the truce could start as early as next week.

But he added that talks were needed first to establish how many Palestinian prisoners would be released in return for each freed Israeli hostage and to specify the amount of humanitarian aid that will be allowed to enter Gaza during the ceasefire.

He said negotiations on a permanent ceasefire and the full withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza in return for the release of the remaining hostages would start on the first day of the truce.

Hamas has been seeking guarantees that the 60-day ceasefire would lead to a total end to the nearly 21-month-old war, which caused previous rounds of negotiations to fail as Mr Netanyahu has insisted that Israel would continue fighting in Gaza to ensure the destruction of Hamas.

The Hamas official said that Mr Trump has guaranteed that the ceasefire will extend beyond 60 days if necessary to reach a peace deal, but there is no confirmation from the US of such a guarantee.

Speaking to journalists on Air Force One, Mr Trump welcomed Hamas’s “positive spirit” to the proposal, adding that there could be a ceasefire deal by next week.

Hamas also said it wants more aid to flow through the United Nations and other humanitarian agencies, which comes as the UN human rights officer said it recorded 613 Palestinians killed in Gaza within a month while trying to obtain aid.

Most of them were said to have been killed while trying to reach food distribution points by the controversial US- and Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF).

The spokeswoman for the UN human rights office, Ravina Shamdasani, said the agency was not able to attribute responsibility for the killings, but added that “it is clear that the Israeli military has shelled and shot at Palestinians trying to reach the distribution points” operated by GHF.

Ms Shamdasani said that of the total tallied, 509 killings were “GHF-related”, meaning at or near its distribution sites.

The GHF accused the UN of taking its casualty figures “directly from the Hamas-controlled Gaza health ministry” and of trying “to falsely smear our effort”, which echoed statements to Sky News by the executive director of GHF, Johnnie Moore.

Mr Moore called the UN figures a “disinformation campaign” that is “meant to shut down our efforts” in the Gaza Strip.