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Topics: Russia, UK News, World News, Politics
Joshua Nair
Topics: Russia, UK News, World News, Politics
The UK government is said to be preparing for an attack from Russia in a secretive operation.
This decision comes after senior officials' warnings of the UK not being well-equipped enough to deal with a potential conflict on its shores.
While the US famously has its 'nuclear triad' to combat any nuclear or missile threats, we have the 'homeland defence plan', which is about 20 years old.
This sets out how the British government will react to the declaration of a war, and it looks like the Cabinet Office are now reviewing its viability and deciding if it should be changed, reports The Telegraph.
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The move comes from a number of threats from Russia and its officials about starting a war with the UK.
A number of damning simulations have showed the extent of damage that could be done to the island.
Concerns have grown among UK officials over the nation's civil and military readiness, with worries that the current plans in place would result in the nation being 'outgunned' by Russia.
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Former Chancellor Philip Hammond told the Peel Hunt Insights podcast that the country is 'massively under-strength' and we may need to 'reorganise our economy' to prepare to rapidly expand the military.
A senior government source has revealed to The Telegraph that there is an updated strategy in the works, which would bring the old 'War Book', a Cold War dossier of how to respond to a nuclear attack, into the modern era.
It would outline how the government would respond to a full-scale attack, as well as contingency plans for high-ranking officials and members of the Royal Family.
The 'homeland defence plan', which hasn't been updated since before 2005, will map out a strategy for the days following a strike, with scenarios such as missiles, nuclear warheads or cyber operations being accounted for.
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The plan would be determined by the Cabinet Office’s Resilience Directorate, with directions on how the prime minister and Cabinet should run a wartime government and when they should seek shelter.
Factors such as rail and road networks, courts, postal system and phone lines are also being considered, in what is expected to be a classified plan of action for the public, should an attack take place.
While the British military already simulated a Russian missile strike and cyber attacks to chilling results, it revealed that civilians and members of the emergency services would perish.
There are concerns over the country's five nuclear power stations, which could release radioactive matter across the country, and while the government modelled the effects of a nuclear attack, the results remain under wraps.
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Whitehall did note that the release of radioactive material would cause 'significant prolonged long-term security, health, environmental and economic impacts'.
Plans are in place to address cyber warfare for the first time, as they pose a threat to national security.
The director of MI5, Ken McCallum, noted last year that the number of state treats investigated increased by almost half, as ministers officially categorised Russia as a national security threat for the first time.
Under the old War Book plan, Britain would be divided into 12 zones which would each have its own Cabinet ministers, senior military officers, chief constables and judges with specific powers.
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Food and building materials would then be stockpiled and rationed, while the BBC would be responsible for playing public service announcements on how to shelter from missiles, while the country's most precious art would be transported to Scotland for safekeeping.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer has stated that the UK will spend 2.5 percent of its GDP on defence starting in 2027, though the amount of money has not yet been agreed on by ministers and service chiefs.