Security has returned as the central test of any government’s strength – perhaps the most important of all.

Questions of whether something is truly “secure” now dominate almost every sector: energy, cyber, food, water, borders, social cohesion and infrastructure.

Yet military security, in the traditional sense, remains the simplest and most fundamental gauge. There is little point fortifying an energy network or securing freshwater supplies if the society they serve could be overwhelmed by military force.

It is therefore deeply concerning to see how this Labour Government is handling defence. It attempted to give away a vitally strategic overseas base in the Indian Ocean – and pay for the privilege. The painfully slow deployment of HMS Dragon to defend British bases in Cyprus was embarrassing, prompting the Cypriots to question their ongoing relationship with Britain.

Even setting aside operational shortcomings, the Government’s strategic direction is worrying. Last year it pledged to spend 3 percent of GDP on defence.

Months later, when I asked ministers when that target would actually be met – even vaguely – they couldn’t say. Labour promised a ‘Defence Investment Plan’ for Autumn 2025. It is now April 2026 and the plan has still not appeared.

With this government already entering the second half of what is likely to be a single term, the window for meaningful delivery is closing rapidly. Yet those that threaten our way of life, our enemies, are not delaying. In many ways, their conviction is stronger than ever.

Locally, we take immense pride in our deep connection to the Armed Forces. Our area has supported them for decades through bases in Aldershot and Bordon, training on Hankley and Longmoor commons, and the vital work of cadet units such as TS Swiftsure, which I was pleased to visit recently.

These links build skills and confidence in our young people and remind us that we are not detached from our military – quite the opposite.

I know we want to see the investment our forces need, not merely for decent conditions of service, but to genuinely deliver an agile, lethal capability that can deter and defend.

While Labour continues to delay and dither, the Conservatives are prepared to make the hard choices Britain needs. We are committed to reaching 3 percent of GDP on defence with a clear deadline. To fund this, we will cut welfare spending to free up billions for frontline investment. We will also establish a Sovereign Defence Fund focused on securing supply chains and supporting dual-use technologies, with £17 billion of reallocated spending directed straight into defence.

This is the serious, funded plan the country requires. Labour’s continuing failure to produce one cannot indefinitely be excused as mere indecision. After two years, it looks increasingly like reluctance.