The Security Podcast

Who pays for Britain’s defence?

Westminster has been shaken by the resignations of Defence Secretary John Healey and Armed Forces Minister Al Carns over claims the government has failed to properly fund the Defence Investment Plan, known as the DIP, intended to pay for the ambitions set out in the defence review. Both politicians  warned that underfunding the plan risks making Britain less safe.In the latest episode of The Security Podcast, I discuss the DIP with Harry Fullerton, a defence consultant and strategist, who once commanded the Household Cavalry Regiment.We ask: what is the Defence Investment Plan, why does it matter, and what happens if it is not properly funded?We also examine a harder question: in an era of drones, missiles, cyber warfare and constrained budgets, are some legacy platforms, including tanks, attack helicopters and even warships, still essential, or are they becoming too expensive to justify?At its heart, this is a debate about priorities. If Britain wants credible defence, someone has to pay for it. The question is who, and what should be sacrificed to make it possible?

Collective Defence: How AI Is Protecting Nations from Cyber and Drone Threats.

This episode of The Security Podcast looks at one of the most urgent security challenges facing governments, industry and critical national infrastructure: how to defend against the combined threat of cyber attacks, drones and rapidly evolving hostile technologies.I spoke with Arno Robbertse from Collective Defence about how AI, cybersecurity and counter-drone technology are changing the way we protect essential services, infrastructure and national resilience. From power networks and transport systems to ports, airports and other high-value sites, the threat landscape is no longer purely physical or purely digital. It is increasingly blended, fast-moving and asymmetric.What stood out from the conversation was the importance of using AI as a practical defensive tool: helping identify threats earlier, connect data across domains, speed up decision-making and support operators when seconds matter. Combined with cyber expertise and counter-drone capability, this kind of approach could play a vital role in protecting the systems societies depend on every day.

Intelligence: What Is It Really Good For?

In this episode of The Security Podcast, Sean Rayment speaks to Phil Ingram, former Colonel in the Intelligence Corps, about the vital role of intelligence in modern security.They discuss what intelligence really means, how information is gathered and assessed, and why good intelligence is essential for effective decision-making. Phil draws on his military experience to explain the challenges of filtering huge amounts of data, the risks of political influence, and the lessons learned from historic intelligence failures.
The conversation also explores the continuing threat of terrorism, the role AI could play in intelligence gathering, Russia’s gray zone warfare, and the growing risk of global conflict in an increasingly unstable world.

Is Britain ready for war with Russia?

In March 2026, the Russian Army sustained more than 35,000 casualties in Ukraine  - 96 per cent of them either killed or wounded by drones. This year, Ukraine is expected to produce around seven million attack and reconnaissance drones. Russia is expected to produce even more.In the latest episode of The Security Podcast, I’m joined by Harry Fullerton, a defence consultant, strategist and transformation expert who once commanded the Household Cavalry Regiment. Together, we examine how drone technology is reshaping the modern battlefield, whether the British Army is psychologically prepared for war, and whether the British public is ready for the profound sacrifices a future conflict may demand.

Does the British Army have the capability to fight and win?

It is now widely accepted that the British Army requires radical reform if it is to survive, let alone prevail, in a future conflict. But how radical does that reform need to be? Has the time come to challenge sacred cows and think the unthinkable?Are brigades, battalions, companies, platoons and sections still the right force structures for the modern battlefield? Is the RAF Regiment still relevant? Should the Royal Marines continue to exist as a separate entity? Has military parachuting become an outdated concept?Regimental tradition and history remain vital components of any fighting force. But the drone units that may fight — and possibly win — the next war have yet to be created.In this episode, I discuss these questions with Harry Fullerton, a former commanding officer of the Household Cavalry Regiment, who served in Afghanistan at the height of the Taliban insurgency in 2009.You may not agree with all our views, but I’m sure you will find the podcast fascinating.

Does the British Army still have the Capability to Fight and win?

It is now widely accepted that the British Army requires radical reform if it is to survive, let alone prevail, in a future conflict. But how radical does that reform need to be? Has the time come to challenge sacred cows and think the unthinkable?Are brigades, battalions, companies, platoons and sections still the right force structures for the modern battlefield? Is the RAF Regiment still relevant? Should the Royal Marines continue to exist as a separate entity? Has military parachuting become an outdated concept?Regimental tradition and history remain vital components of any fighting force. But the drone units that may fight — and possibly win — the next war have yet to be created.In this episode, I discuss these questions with Harry Fullerton, a former commanding officer of the Household Cavalry Regiment, who served in Afghanistan at the height of the Taliban insurgency in 2009.You may not agree with all our views, but I’m sure you will find the podcast fascinating.

The US-Iran Conflict Trap

In the latest episode of The Security Podcast, Paul Cornish, Professor of Strategic Studies at the University of Exeter, and I examine how the United States has become trapped in a conflict with Iran. As Trump posts messianic images of himself on social media and clashes with the Pope, the Strait of Hormuz remains closed, peace talks have stalled, and the global economy is teetering on the brink of recession. Is there a way out of the conflict, and can the US extricate itself from yet another Middle Eastern quagmire? Listen in to find out.

Has Trump Lost the Initiative in Iran?

In this episode of The Security Podcast, I’m joined by strategic studies professor Paul Cornish to examine one of the most pressing questions in global security today: has Donald Trump lost the initiative in the war with Iran?We explore how this conflict may be reshaping the nature of modern warfare and consider whether the United States remains the military superpower it once was.We also turn to the UK, where the war has exposed weaknesses in Britain’s defensive posture, and ask what this means for the future of its armed forces.

The Iran War: Who Actually Wins?

As the war with Iran enters its third week, I speak with Major General Charlie Herbert about the reasons behind the decision by the United States and Israel to attack Iran.US President Donald Trump has declared that the war against Iran has been won. Yet the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz — the shipping lane through which around 20 percent of the world’s oil passes — remains closed. Although the US and Israel have eliminated much of Iran’s senior military leadership, the regime itself endures, and Trump’s ambition of regime change now appears a distant prospect.So how might this conflict end? Who could realistically emerge victorious , and how will victory even be defined? Trump has suggested that victory would mean Iran’s unconditional surrender. But Tehran may well claim victory simply by surviving, if the current regime remains in power.

Iran Crisis: Strategic Ambiguity and America’s Endgame

In another emergency edition of The Security Podcast, I’m once again joined by former Army Colonel and Military Intelligence Officer Philip Ingram MBE to examine the ongoing conflict in Iran.Together, we reassess President Trump’s strategy and the “strategic ambiguity” surrounding the United States’ military objectives. Is the goal regime change, the destruction of Iran’s ballistic missile capability, or some combination of the two?We also explore the wider regional and global implications,  from the impact on the Gulf states to a looming global oil crisis, and ask whether there is a realistic endgame that could satisfy the Trump administration.