From the archive: The UK faces ‘hard choices’ on how to fund defence - General Sir Richard Barrons

On 17 April, 2026 General Sir Richard Barrons KCB CBE, Senior Consulting Fellow in Chatham House's International Security Programme, explained the 'hard choice' facing the UK on how to fund defence spending. It followed remarks by Lord Robertson, the ex-Labour defence secretary who wrote the government's Strategic Defence Review. Lord Robertson said the UK's security was 'in peril' and criticised Prime Minister Keir Starmer's government, saying it had shown 'corrosive complacency' over defence. Lord Robertson led the UK's Strategic Defence Review 2025. General Sir Richard Barrons, a former Commander Joint Forces Command and former Deputy Chief of the Defence Staff, was one of the two external reviewers of the SDR. #ukdefence #ukdefencespending #defencespending #ukforeignpolicy #internationalsecurity #chathamhouse #JohnHealey #ukpolitics #StrategicDefenceReview More from Sir Richard here: https://www.chathamhouse.org/about-us/our-people/richard-barrons?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=comms --- Chatham House is a London-based international affairs think-tank. Its mission is to address geopolitical challenges and international problems, aiming to help governments and societies build a secure, sustainable, prosperous and just world. Find out more about our mission and values here: https://www.chathamhouse.org/about-us/our-mission-and-values?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=comms