Should we declare a national security emergency?
If this isn't an emergency, I don't know what is
A few years ago the UK Parliament, in response to Extinction Rebellion protests, declared a climate emergency. This led to the net-zero emissions by 2050 policy. A great win for many of the protesters, a terrible mistake for some people, but whatever your view of it as a policy, it was pretty dramatic, a far more ambitious policy than the previous one of an 80% emissions cut (compared to 1990 levels) by the same year.
However performative it might seem, when you’re faced with an emergency and need some bold dramatic action, is the declaration of an emergency a good first step?
It might seem obvious this is an emergency, that we’re now in a very different world and we need to respond accordingly, with decisive action. The Trump administration appears to have changed sides. It’s more supportive of Putin than of its historical European allies. If Russia were to attack a NATO member, it’s no longer clear the US would honour Article 5: an attack on one is an attack on all.
Do we really need parliament to declare the bleeding obvious?
Maybe we do, and we need to see cross-party support, even if that doesn’t mean total support. We at least need to see where our politicians stand.
Emergency: a serious, unexpected, and often dangerous situation requiring immediate action
That’s what the dictionary says.
A lot of people aren’t paying much attention to politics, or they’re just attending to certain issues that interest or directly impact them, and so much of what appears in our social media feeds or on newspaper headlines is hyped up clickbait. It needs to be made clear to the public that this isn’t just another piece of hyped up clickbait. It really is an emergency and therefore requires immediate and effective action.
If we’re going to significantly increase defence spending, more than the small increase Starmer announced last week by cutting the international aid budget, that’s going to require either tax increases or borrowing, or a combination of the two. The Labour manifesto promised there would be no tax rises on working people, but when that manifesto was written and when Labour was elected, Trump wasn’t in the White House and even though Labour ought to have realised there was a pretty good chance he would end up in the White House, they probably didn’t imagine he would side with Russia, at least not to the extent he has.
A degree of isolationism was expected, but what we’re seeing isn’t isolationism. What we are seeing now is not mere retreat but a realignment. Trump’s rhetoric has openly questioned NATO commitments and his administration has shown a willingness to engage with Putin in ways that raise serious concerns for European security.
The UK can no longer assume automatic US military support in the event of Russian aggression against NATO’s eastern flank. If the US were to fail to respond, NATO’s credibility—and European security—could be irreparably damaged. If Ukraine falls, Russia will be emboldened. We need to be able to defend ourselves.
To go against a manifesto commitment not to raise taxes on working people the government is going to need a damn good reason. If this is a national security emergency then there’s your damn good reason.
Also the manifesto was a committed not to rejoin the EU, nor the single market or customs union. If declaring a national security emergency were thought to give the government a reason to drop those manifesto commitments too, they’d probably lose the support of most Tories, but if the US is no longer a reliable ally there is a strong case for the UK strengthening its ties to the EU.
Whilst I’d personally support the UK rejoining the EU, that issue is too divisive. We need the support of conservatives. We need to expose and isolate the Putinists. We could certainly support Ukraine being fast-tracked for EU membership, even though that’s not for us to decide.
Why declaring an emergency matters
Declaring a national security emergency is not just a symbolic gesture—it could serve critical functions:
Mobilising public awareness – Many people are disengaged from politics or are only exposed to selective, often sensationalised, media narratives. A formal declaration could help cut through the noise and emphasise the gravity of the situation.
Strengthening political consensus – Cross-party agreement on a national emergency would clarify where political leaders stand and could enable more decisive government action.
Unlocking strategic policy shifts – An emergency declaration could facilitate necessary but politically sensitive policy changes, such as increasing defence spending or revisiting foreign alliances.
The free world needs a new leader
Kaja Kallas, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, said:
The UK may no longer be part of the European Union, but we are still Europeans. We’re one of only two European nuclear powers. If Europe is to become the leader of the free world, we need to be part of that leadership. Much as I would like us to rejoin the EU, or just the single market and/or customs union, my feeling is it would be wise not to push that at the moment. We need to isolate the pro-Putin/Trump lot and we need proper conservatives on side.
However, leadership in global security should not be limited to Europe. Turkey, a NATO member, has said it’s open to sending forces to Ukraine. And Canada, Japan, Australia and New Zealand should also be involved in a new global security framework. While Europe remains central due to its geographic proximity to Russia, a broader coalition of like-minded nations will be essential for long-term stability.
What happens now?
A clear government statement outlining the severity of the security threat and its implications.
A commitment to significantly increase defense spending with a transparent plan for funding it.
Reassessment of international alliances, ensuring that the UK strengthens ties with partners who are committed to European security while also building broader security cooperation with democratic allies beyond Europe.
Public engagement and transparency, so that citizens understand the risks, the necessary policy shifts, and the potential sacrifices required to ensure national and regional security.
We’re at a turning point. Whether we choose to acknowledge it with an emergency declaration or not, the reality remains: we must prepare for a future in which Europe—not the US—leads the defence of democratic values.
Declaring a national security emergency would not be a mere formality. It would be a recognition of the seriousness of the moment—and the first step toward decisive action to safeguard the UK's future and global stability.