DAILY MAIL COMMENT: Labour can’t ignore spy chief’s warning

The head of MI5 pulled no punches yesterday about the dangers our enemies pose to the way of life we hold dear.

In a chillingly candid analysis, Ken McCallum warned Britain is facing ‘the most complex threat environment we have ever seen’.

Those seeking to cause us harm, he says, range from terrorists to autocratic states. To degrade and destroy our liberal, democratic country, these malevolent actors are trying every trick in the book.

The terrorists who want to bring bloodshed to our streets through bombs, mass shootings and stabbings are mainly Islamist. But troubling numbers of children are being drawn into far-Right extremism via online conspiracy theories and disinformation.

Meanwhile, attacks by hostile nations such as Russia, Iran and China have risen by half in the past year – from cyber strikes and assassination plots to embedding spies in British politics, industry and academia.

In just three months since becoming PM, Sir Keir Starmer has appeared distinctly half-hearted in his support for Israel and Ukraine

Moscow, in particular, has been on a mission to cause ‘sustained mayhem’ because of the UK’s bold leadership under the Tories in helping Ukraine bravely repel Vladimir Putin’s illegal invasion.

There is no doubt the security services do a magnificent job in keeping our country safe. But can Labour be trusted to do the same?

In just three months since becoming PM, Sir Keir Starmer has appeared distinctly half-hearted in his support for Israel and Ukraine – supposedly our staunch allies.

And he has surrendered sovereignty of the Chagos Islands, which include the joint UK/US military base at Diego Garcia, to Mauritius – a nation cosying up to China.

These are serious missteps. Such reckless naivety in international affairs telegraphs weakness and can only embolden our foes, both at home and abroad.

Migration betrayal

So much for taking back control of our borders! As the latest official figures show, mass migration was entirely responsible for the fastest increase in the British population since records began 50 years ago.

The number crammed into our tiny island rose by 1 per cent – or a staggering 680,000 people – in the year to June 2023. And that doesn’t include the boatloads of mostly young men arriving illegally every day.

For decades we’ve been told that an unabated influx was necessary for economic growth. But it’s becoming ever clearer that it has lowered wages, pushed public services and housing to breaking point, and damaged social cohesion.

Yes, the Tories tightened visa restrictions before being booted from office, so the numbers should start coming down. And Sir Keir says he is determined to get a grip on the problem, but he seems in no hurry.

Millions repeatedly voted for reduced immigration having seen their communities change without consultation. Is it any wonder they feel betrayed by the political elite?

Failing the care test

If ever a story summed up the abject failure of successive governments to tackle the social care scandal, it is today’s news that some areas of England have 170 pensioners for every residential home bed.

This not only means some can’t get a care home place when needed. It also fuels the bed-blocking crisis by making it difficult for the NHS to discharge elderly patients who are well enough to leave hospital.

The damning truth is our leaders have lacked the courage to fix social care, deeming it too politically risky and expensive.

If the test of a civilised society is the way it treats its elderly, Britain is flunking it badly.