The Prime Minister was labelled ‘blasé Burnham’ on Friday night as the Government appeared unbothered by warnings that Vladimir Putin was preparing to launch more attacks on Europe.
Poland‘s premier Donald Tusk warned that the Kremlin was planning to target Nato states, while French president Emmanuel Macron said attacks were ‘intensifying’ amid fears that Russia is preparing to test their support of Ukraine.
Alarm has also grown following reports that the US is considering withdrawing at least 25,000 troops from Europe – more than a quarter of its 80,000-strong force – following pressure from Donald Trump‘s administration for the continent to take more responsibility for its defence.
In recent months, Russia has launched ‘hybrid attacks’ across Europe, using drones packed with explosives. This week, Poland and Lithuania were targeted.
Germany and the Baltic states have also been the focus of Russian operations. Those countries have responded by boosting their spending on defence and support for Ukraine.
Yet despite the gathering storm across Europe, UK defence officials insisted that there had been no change in Putin’s strategy and he was not seeking a wider conflict.
They also said they were receiving the same intelligence assessments on Russia’s intentions as other allies.
It came as Andy Burnham spent Friday entertaining his Irish counterpart Micheal Martin at Number 10 North in Manchester, posting videos on social media.
Andy Burnham, pictured meeting Ireland’s Taoiseach Micheal Martin, has been criticised for appearing unbothered about warnings that Vladimir Putin is preparing to attack Europe
But senior defence figures criticised Mr Burnham for seemingly failing to take the situation seriously despite the alarm bells ringing across Europe.
On present projections, the earliest the UK is expected to reach the Nato defence spending target of 3.5 per cent is 2035.
The Daily Mail’s Don’t Leave Britain Defenceless campaign has pushed successive governments for a rise in military cash.
Former defence secretary Ben Wallace said: ‘This is the real world where our national security and economic security must come before social security.
‘I fear our new PM thinks TikTok videos and doling out benefits is all it takes to be in charge. This is not some episode of Coronation Street with “Andy and his chums”.’
Ex-Army intelligence officer Philip Ingram said the inaction by Mr Burnham’s Government on defence and national security increased the chances of Putin attacking Nato and drawing Britain into a European war.
He said: ‘I have not seen more dangerous conditions in the past 40 years. Given the state of our Armed Forces, promising something by 2035 will result in us not needing social security because current claimants will find themselves on the front line fighting.
‘This is not scaremongering. But it seems that blasé Burnham will realise too late to do anything about it.’
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Mr Burnham posted videos to social media during Mr Martin’s visit to Manchester
In a post on X, Tory leader Kemi Badenoch said: ‘Macron and Tusk are speaking and acting with an urgency that makes the latest reports about Russia violating Lithuanian airspace even more concerning. It is not clear the Government is taking the Russian threat seriously enough.’
Mr Tusk said Putin was readying missile strikes on Europe, while Mr Macron ordered protection measures for France’s critical infrastructure to be stepped up.
The French leader also warned that Russia was trying to ‘intimidate’ Ukraine’s allies and urged countries to protect sites involved in weapons production.
It is thought that Putin is waiting until after Russian elections this weekend before beginning a ‘stealth mobilisation’ that could see up to 300,000 troops drafted who could be deployed to Ukraine or Russia’s borders with Nato.
A Ministry of Defence spokesman said: ‘Russia should be in no doubt about the resolve of this Government to stand against Russian aggression, in Ukraine and against the UK and our allies.
‘The Government has overseen the biggest sustained increase in defence spending since the Cold War, including investing £750million into counter-drone equipment and protection for our Armed Forces, both at home and deployed overseas.’
