Streeting warns Britain faces greatest risk of war in his lifetime, names Putin enemy number one

Defence Secretary Wes Streeting has warned that Britain faces “a greater risk of war than at any point in my lifetime” and named Russia’s Vladimir Putin as enemy number one.

In an interview with The Sun on Sunday’s political editor Kate Ferguson on the eve of the Labour Party conference, the 43-year-old said Britain’s enemies were waiting for signs of weakness. “Without a shadow of a doubt, the biggest threat facing Britain is Russia and President Putin,” he said.

“We’ve got war in our continent. We’ve got a Russian President who has imperialist ambitions, who is constantly testing Britain’s defences, NATO defences, and testing the strength of our alliances.”

Mr Streeting said the government had decided to deliver “the biggest sustained increase in defence spending since the end of the Cold War”, warning that standing still could leave Britain unable to defend itself within five years.

He also urged households to keep a stockpile of cash, bottled water and tinned food at home against risks from enemy states, terror groups, cyber warfare and extreme weather, calling for a “whole society approach” to resilience.

“I want people to be alert, not alarmed,” he said. “It’s having some cash at home, having a supply of bottled water indoors, having some tinned goods that you can access if your electric goes and you’re not able to cook on the hob or in the microwave.”