By Charlie Simpson | April 17, 2026
A leading think tank has urged Defence Secretary John Healey to publish the Defence Investment Plan before Parliament returns next month, warning that further delays are leaving Britain dangerously exposed.
In a sharply worded letter sent on 15 April which we at GB Politics has seen, Major (Ret.) Andrew Fox of the Henry Jackson Society criticised the Government for turning strategic ambition into little more than paperwork. The former soldier and defence researcher told Healey that identifying threats is no longer the problem – delivering real capability is.
Fox, writing from the Henry Jackson Society, pointed to the repeated pattern of bold reviews followed by postponed action. He highlighted the Defence Readiness Bill, now delayed until at least mid-2027, as the latest example of Whitehall kicking tough decisions into the long grass.
Drawing on his own experience in the mid-2000s, Fox recalled troops being sent into harm’s way in lightly protected Snatch Land Rovers that later became museum pieces. “Delays in Whitehall translate directly into risks on the front line,” he wrote.
The letter paints a grim picture of the current threat environment. Russia’s war of attrition in Europe continues, China is pushing its military reach further, and recent tensions in the Strait of Hormuz have shown how quickly global instability hits British wallets through higher fuel and food prices.
Fox set out five clear demands for the Defence Investment Plan. It must prioritise integrated air and missile defence, including counter-drone systems and deep munitions stockpiles. It should restore maritime strength so the Royal Navy has enough usable hulls rather than just future promises. Rapidly deployable airborne forces need protecting, priorities must be stated honestly, and procurement must become far more transparent with realistic timelines and full costs.
The letter warns that without urgent action, the frigate gap will widen as Type 23s retire before replacements arrive, minehunting capability will erode, and the industrial base will struggle to support sustained defence.
With the State Opening of Parliament set for 13 May, Fox has given ministers just weeks to prove they can move from rhetoric to reality. “The country needs more than rhetoric,” he concluded. “It requires decisions, delivery, and capability that arrives in time to matter.”
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