Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is under immense pressure from all sides. With spending out of control, rising debt, and a discontented nation, his own party is turning against him. MPs who owe their seats to Starmer's landslide victory now want him out. The upcoming Makerfield by-election could be a turning point: if leadership contender Andy Burnham wins as expected, Starmer will face a fight for his political survival while still trying to govern.
One of Starmer's biggest challenges is making decisions, particularly on defence funding. Whitehall moves slowly, and on defence, progress is glacial. Starmer needs an estimated £28 billion to bolster Britain's defences against Vladimir Putin, but Chancellor Rachel Reeves has exhausted the budget. However, one cabinet minister is sitting on a massive cash pile: Energy Secretary Ed Miliband.
Miliband's Green War Chest
Miliband controls a £63 billion fund dedicated to accelerating his Net Zero mission, aiming to green UK electricity production by 2030. He is spending lavishly: £22 billion on unproven carbon capture technology, £8.3 billion on Great British Energy (a vanity project), £15 billion on a Warm Homes Plan with no results yet, and £11.6 billion on international climate projects with little benefit to Britain. Another £11 billion is earmarked for the National Wealth Fund to support green industries, but Whitehall's track record suggests much will be wasted. Additionally, Miliband is subsidising Drax power station with £4 billion to burn imported wood pellets and paying wind farms £1.5 billion annually not to generate electricity.
Starmer's Dilemma
Starmer is growing frustrated with Miliband's spending priorities and his determination to block new North Sea oil and gas developments. He attempted to sack Miliband last year but lacked the political power to do so. Miliband remains popular with Labour MPs and activists, and is rumoured to be encouraging Andy Burnham's leadership bid. Starmer sees an opportunity: by sacking Miliband and redirecting part of his green budget to defence, he can show backbone and address the security threat.
Starmer believes he can survive a leadership contest, arguing that three months would expose Burnham as a lightweight. But first, he must demonstrate decisive action. Opening up the North Sea and reallocating funds from Net Zero to defence would signal that he is willing to make tough choices. It is time for Starmer to take defence seriously—by fighting to save both Britain and his own job.
