Britain risks being unprepared for global conflict, former Conservative defence minister Tobias Ellwood has warned, accusing Chancellor Rachel Reeves of leaving the country dangerously exposed by resisting calls for higher defence spending. Mr Ellwood believes refusing to invest further in the armed forces reveals a Treasury “out of touch with reality” at a time when global threats are escalating.

Mr Ellwood told Express.co.uk: “There is a symbiotic relationship between our economy and our security. Land Rover Jaguar is a great example of just how grey-zone warfare is bypassing the battlefield and we are being struck directly.

“Our society is vulnerable and it needs protecting; for the Treasury not to understand that refusing to invest further in our defence posture really just shows how out of touch it is with reality.”

The warning comes amid a standoff between the Treasury and the Ministry of Defence, with service chiefs highlighting a £28bn shortfall in funding needed to maintain NATO commitments and meet evolving Russian threats.

Mr Ellwood, a former British Army officer, said the UK cannot afford to follow a “Whitehall bubble” mentality, arguing that ministers must respond to real-world dangers rather than focus narrowly on fiscal constraints.

He added: “Our world is certainly getting more dangerous, and we need to prepare for it. It shouldn’t be the Treasury that’s guiding this. The Prime Minister made it very clear in Munich that it’s time to invest more in defence; on top of that, every single other European country is doing the same. Why on earth would we think that we know better and then do differently?”

Mr Ellwood stressed the need for a national, non-partisan approach, urging Prime Minister Keir Starmer to take the lead in coordinating support across political lines.

Mr Ellwood said: “If I were Keir Starmer, I’d be inviting the other leaders in to say, ‘Look, it is in British interests for us to get this right.’ There is no extra money and we are not growing, therefore we’re going to have to find the funds from somewhere.”

He proposed that a targeted, modest tax increase could fund vital defence upgrades.

Mr Ellwood said: “I’ve calculated that putting income tax up by 1% is not going to be popular, but if you explain to the British people that this will be a specific increase for defence to protect our country because of these dangers, it changes the conversation. It will cost each taxpayer roughly the price of a cappuccino a day, and that will help protect us for the longer term. Either we do that, or we take the risk.”

Mr Ellwood warned that unless MPs demand increased spending, the Treasury will continue to prioritise other sectors such as health and education.

Mr Ellwood said: “MPs aren’t calling for this. If MPs don’t demand it, the Treasury is happy to focus the money on health, education, and other sectors. That is the strategy here—it’s a bit more nuanced than it initially meets the eye. But you do need a plan; otherwise, we have to wait for a rather large event. The dangers are bigger than what the Treasury understands.”

The comments echo earlier warnings from another former British Army officer Stuart Crawford, who also told Express.co.uk Sir Keir “should order Rachel Reeves to wind her neck in and get on with it,” criticising the Labour leadership for allowing Treasury officials to block additional defence funding.

Mr Crawford highlighted the mismatch between Labour’s welfare-focused ideology and the practical responsibilities of government.

Mr Crawford said: “if you agree that the first responsibility of government is the defence and security of the state, its citizens, and the national interests then it’s clear that defence funding should take priority, not just now but at all times.”

Military chiefs have repeatedly warned that Britain risks falling behind in NATO’s rearmament drive. Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Knighton has described Russia’s military posture as having “shifted decisively westward,” while Air Chief Marshal Sir Harv Smyth criticised the “sluggish” pace of budget discussions, saying political indecision is slowing the Defence Investment Plan.

Mr Ellwood said effective messaging is crucial to gain public support for defence spending.

He explained: “Sure, so it’s about messaging as much as anything else, isn’t it? When the nation is aware of the dangers, they will be willing to spend more. But when you just put taxes up—particularly when you promised you wouldn’t—that never goes down well.”

With NATO allies accelerating military investment and Russia expanding its capability, the risk of strategic under-preparedness has never been higher.

Mr Ellwood concluded: “Our society is vulnerable, and we need protecting. The Treasury’s current approach leaves the UK exposed at a moment when we can least afford it.”

Speaking on Tuesday, an MoD spokesman said: ““As the public would rightly expect, this government is committed to securing value for money for taxpayers. As part of routine budget management, and to ensure we can respond to the changing nature of threats we face, defence budgets are continually assessed and reprioritised.”