Labour came under fire this morning after the King's Speech failed to include an immediate boost to defence spending or a date to publish expenditure plans.
While despite warnings about the need to prepare for conflict within three years, there was mention of the Defence Readiness Bill which would provide the government with powers to mobilise reserves to protect the country.
Under fire Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has pledged to increase funding to the hollowed out armed forces, but there was no confirmation when that spending boost will come.
The King's Speech said: 'Our defence and national security relies on rebuilding European alliances as well as strengthening our defence and armed forces. We will end defence 'austerity' with the biggest sustained increase in investment since the end of the Cold War.
'We will stand strong with NATO, the most successful defence alliance in history and push forward with our Defence Investment Plan.
'But we also know that our enemies seek to exploit divisions in our communities. That is why we will take on extremism wherever it appears, including where it is sponsored by foreign powers that are hostile to the UK, such as Iran.'
The Prime Minister has promised to increase defence spending to meet the threat posed by Russia and other enemies but the King's Speech failed to include when that boost will come.
The UK currently spends around 2.6 per cent of GDP on defence. Military sources have suggested the country needs to spend 3 per cent to rebuild the Royal Navy, Royal Air Force and the Army.
The Defence Investment Plan (DIP) is a blueprint for the equipment the armed forces need to purchase to strengthen the UK's defences. It was supposed to be published in mid-2025 so is almost a year late.
Responding to this morning's address to Parliament, Shadow Defence Secretary James Cartlidge said: 'The King's Speech sets out Labour's plans for the year ahead and yet on Defence there were two glaring omissions.
'No Defence Investment Plan - the DIP is now 10 months late. It looks like Sir Keir Starmer is only preparing to publish it now that ministers are working 'flat out' to remove him.
'No Defence Readiness Bill. This was a key recommendation in Labour's Strategic Defence Review (SDR) and has been promised by the government yet there is no mention of it in the King's Speech. Why no Defence Readiness Bill? It isn't ready yet.
'As we have sadly come to expect, the reality of Labour is once again failing to live up to their rhetoric. With war on multiple fronts, Labour are moving far too slowly. Britain deserves better.'
King Charles told the House of Lords 'an increasingly dangerous and volatile world' threatens the United Kingdom with the conflict in the Middle East 'only the most recent example'.
While the challenges ahead will test 'every element of the nation's energy, defence and economic security'. King Charles described the UK's commitment to NATO as 'unbreakable'.
HMS Dragon is expected to play a key role in an international peacekeeping force to secure the Strait of Hormuz following any settlement to the US-Iran conflict.
RAF Typhoon jets will fly defensive sorties over the Strait of Hormuz to provide protection to commercial shipping once the US and Iran reach a peace deal
The King's Speech also unveiled plans for improvements to the service justice system and additional powers for service police - following reports that victims of abuse, particularly young, junior, female personnel have been ignored by their chains of command.
There will also be a Defence Housing Service, an extension of the Armed Forces Covenant to assist former service personnel seeking employment and an expansion of the pool of reservists 'by changing the maximum length and age limit at which some personnel can be recalled enabling the Government to call on some of the most experienced volunteer reservists, if needed. These are significant but necessary changes to boost preparedness in an era of ever-increasing threats.'