David Billinge

@WarshipsIFR @GOVUK They UK has so far failed to establish a sovereign military warship scrapping capability despite an ever increasing supply of Ex Man o War although Intrepid did get broken up in Liverpool

Odin says: with the reported '£10 billion of savings' and delays to the Defence Investment Plan, the verdict is in on the current @GOVUK when it comes to protection of the nation - its home seas, skies and territory. And on its lack of interest in preserving and properly defending the UK's worldwide interests, plus territories, along with any national ability to lead (or even contribute meaningfully) in major/minor, operations in crisis zones or - Lord help us - fight in wars. The current administration is, however, only the latest of successive governments (Labour, Tory and Con-Lib Dem) that due to their actions have left the UK all but defenceless. Britain's politicians - with a few exceptions - are seemingly incapable of properly over-seeing investment in present or future defence. Many simply appear not to care, locked as they are in partisan squabbles in Parliament instead of putting the national interest and Defence first. Too many of them them have also been overly keen on shredding the UK's current military power, while spending many billions on ideologiocally-driven projects and their own core voting sectors. They have also presided over massive waste and mismanagement across various key areas of public spending, not least the UK Ministry of Defence which has for years been crying out for reform. A terrible whirlwind will be reaped by the UK and may not be long in coming. Pictured: four recently decommissioned Type 23 frigates laid up at Fareham Creek in Portsmouth Harbour, years before their replacements enter service. Photo @MaritimePhotos

@BenObeseJecty Check out Wikepida

“Our Cyprus base is not being used in those US operations.” Except, I’m not convinced this is true. I challenged the Foreign Secretary regarding the use of RAF Akrotiri with regards to Operation Epic Fury and the war in Iran. She previously stated the attack drone which struck RAF Akrotiri had hit the runway. It didn’t. The MOD have since confirmed to me that the drone struck a hangar. That hangar has been reported as being in use by the USAF to protect their U2 spyplanes. The U2’s have been flying out of RAF Akrotiri since before I was born. Operation Olive Harvest sees Detachment 1 of the 9th Operations Group fly ISR missions over the Middle-East. Fair enough. I asked Yvette Cooper to confirm that they weren’t being used to support current US operations in Iran. She wouldn’t, or couldn’t. Are we really to expect that an asset like the U2, tasked with intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance over a region which the US is currently engaged in a highly kinetic military operation isn’t being used to support it? I have no issues with its use. My issue is with regards to whether the Government is lying about it and has been for weeks.

If you're accused of 'hate speech', you're nearly twice as likely to be found innocent by a jury than if your case is just heard by a judge. The British people know right from wrong. It's a disgrace that this Government wants to cut them out of the justice system.

@7Stirling @haynesdeborah E abuse the politicians have tried to buy votes rather than spending money on where it is needed we no have the wake up calll so time to get real as this might be the last opportunity to do it before we get into a shooting match for real

@haynesdeborah I scratch my head how Australia has managed to get 72 F35As in service in less time than its taken us to get 37.

The UK’s F-35 programme is a devastating example of what happens when a nation picks a cool jet - but without the cash to pay for it We end up with a much smaller capability that can’t reach its potential but we have still spent billions of £s Bravo news.sky.com/story/damning-…

@WEB_RN Wether CDS was wearing a Green Blue or light Blue he can only play the hand he was given and he has a pretty crap one to start with

ACM Sir Rich Knighton is - hands-down - one of the finest and most capable leaders I’ve ever served with. We are lucky to have him and our enemies would undoubtably love to see the back of him 🫡

@Forsvaret_no @RoyalMarines #bbcqt The Defence Investment Plan was promised by the end of last year it is still not be presented

Wow! Check out these photos from our friends in the @RoyalMarines. Maritime operations in Norway's icy waters are an essential part of #ColdResponse26, enhancing NATO's ability to protect our maritime areas in the High North. #ArcticSentry #ShoulderToShoulder #NATO #WeAreNATO

@Matt_Pinner 67

So far no one has found the number in the Box What number do you see? Correct answer deserve $650

@FaringForwards With a bit of luck he will loose his seat

So Starmer will have lost 2 Chiefs of Staff, a Cabinet Secretary, an Ambassador to the US and now a CDS, all of whom he appointed himself. Lady Bracknell would be having a field day.

@LOS_Fisher @FT To late by then time for spending was ten years ago

@LOS_Fisher @FT They where both worn out and should have been replaced but the replacements have yet to enter service points finger at Governments past and present of not wanting to spend on Defence No Defence Investment Plan yet Hang on we could get them as Urgent Operational Requirement oh shi

🧵 Britain removed two warships from Middle East in run up to Iran war, @FT revealed this week HMS Lancaster, Type 23 frigate, was removed from Bahrain in December HMS Middleton, minehunter, was towed home from the Gulf this month Both ageing ships were withdrawn from service

@KarlTurnerMP Resign

PM is clearly telling the truth. He accepts that he regrets appointing Mandelson and takes FULL responsibility for that. We must STOP ministers coming out saying this and that’s about the vetting process. Vetting process was “weirdly rushed” and wasn’t even completed.

@gregbagwell Says who

“Daily Mail reports” is doing the heavy lifting here….

@John_ForemanCBE Look North

‘Held back’ for sensible reasons. Sailing the RN carrier to maybe find a job in due course would be daft.

@NavyLookout @faaoa @spectator Not Time to be showing the Flag time to be Manning up and going out where they are needed. We let this happen now we need to strengthen UK Defences urgently UK assets whilst not directly involved need to be concentrated in North Atlantic IMO Dragon should not even be going

Explosive report in the @spectator On 27 Feb, the eve of the bombing of Iran, the National Security Adviser asked CDS, Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Knighton, whether Britain should send warships to the eastern Mediterranean. ‘What about the carrier?’ he pressed, referring to HMS Prince of Wales. Knighton replied: ‘We don’t need the carrier. We have an aircraft carrier – it’s called Cyprus.’ But the failure to send a warship proved to be a disastrous political judgment that enraged Cyprus, Jordan and the UAE. ‘ As an RAF man, he is seen as too dismissive of the Royal Navy’s ability to ‘show the flag’ and reassure allies. Knighton’s performance has not been helped by Starmer’s inexperience in military matters.... #selection-1899.0-1899.90" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">archive.is/93NE8#selectio…

@NavyLookout @faaoa @spectator We have a problem the UK Armed Forces can not be every where at once we just do not have the resources at present The Eastern end of the med has carrier strike groups coming out of its ears Akrotiri has been important for UK ops in area Time to bolster defences of the Base

@NavyLookout @TBrit90 @spectator The target of the attack was the US U-2 detachment The US put the detachment there in 1974 So the US should have been responsible for beefing up the AD of the base. The T45 and the carrier will be needed to defend the High North G I UK Gap prudent to keep eye on Ivan

@TBrit90 @spectator Agree - sending carrier not necessary but ordering T45 despatched well before 28th Feb when it was clear US military was preparing is the failure. Deeper issue for Army and RAF is why no GBAD in place in Cyrus - vulnerability has been known for years.

@NavyLookout @faaoa @spectator The carriers and the T45 are being dispatched with out bearing in mind of what the target was it was the U-2 detachment at Akrotiri A military asset whilst not dropping bombs they do provide vital over view of ME hence why targeted by Iranian proxy The attack was against a US

@James_WE_Smith @IBallantyn So we are now being drawn into the conflict by Tehrans actions Not exactly the action that UK Government was wanting but this is where we are ending up

Britain's response to protecting shipping will be the final test to see if it retains 'sea state' status having failed as a 'seapower', 'naval power' and 'maritime nation' earlier in March 2026. Let's hope you are not all buying a book called: "The Royal Navy 1546-2026".

@RandomRambler15 @ModernNavy @FennellJW @DailyMail @RoyalNavy @DefenceHQ The Attack was on the USAF U-2 Facility which is located at RAF Akrotiri it did which has been overflying the Middle East carrying out ISTAR missions The threat was did not effect any UK assets

@ModernNavy @FennellJW @DailyMail @RoyalNavy @DefenceHQ Dragon wasn’t and isn’t needed - there has been no SRBM threat to RAF Akrotiri, and it’s unlikely to occur as we’re not attacking Iran. Drones, if they come again, can be handled by Wildcat and fighters - but Sky Ceptor would be useful as backup.

Daily Mail reports Chief of Defence Staff, Richard Knighton under pressure. "The failure to send a warship proved to be a disastrous political judgment that enraged #Cyprus, #Jordan and the #UAE." @DailyMail @ModernNavy @RoyalNavy @DefenceHQ #Iran dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1…

@luluHru It’s an AWD going to Cyprus

After the US does all the heavy lifting now that Irans navy has mostly been destroyed! UK sends a Royal Navy Type 45 with a 200 man crew how embarrassing Britain!