Battle between international locations will dominate subsequent 20 years, says former prime UK authorities official | UK information

The subsequent 20 years will probably be dominated by battle between nations, the previous head of the civil service has stated.

Simon Case, who stood down as cupboard secretary in December, made the warning in his first main interview since leaving the job.

Talking to the Instances newspaper, he urged ministers to develop new technique of launching Britain’s nuclear deterrent, which is saved aboard always patrolling submarines.

Land or jet-fired missiles ought to be thought of, he stated, in a transfer the federal government ought to announce as a part of the approaching strategic defence evaluation, an overarching examination of the UK’s defence functionality.

“For my part you wouldn’t depend on a single system for something. That’s true in lots of walks of life, not to mention nuclear deterrence,” he informed the paper.

Case, the civil service chief beneath 4 prime ministers, described himself as a “pessimist” amid the rising international turmoil.

“As I look out on my youngsters’s lives, the subsequent 10 and doubtless 20 years goes to be dominated by this inter-state battle,” he stated.

“It feels to me that we throughout the western alliance must get our skates on and be prepared.”

Talking on a brand new podcast launched by the Instances, titled The Normal and The Journalist, case this week stated the UK ought to be climbing its defence spending to three% as quickly as doable.

Keir Starmer’s authorities has promised to boost defence spending to 2.5% of the UK’s financial output by 2027, with a dedication to boost it additional to three% within the subsequent parliament.

Case retired due to a uncommon well being situation on the finish of 2024. He served as cupboard secretary beneath Boris Johnson, Liz Truss, Rishi Sunak and Starmer, and likewise beforehand served in senior civil service roles beneath then-prime ministers David Cameron and Theresa Could.