This is where the next battle of Britain is being fought – losing will be disastrous

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As Keir Starmer announces the government will buy 12 new nuclear fighter jets, there is a far more urgent threat to our security – and it could lead to food shortages and blackouts very quickly, says defence expert Francis Tusa

I

magine the scenario. You wake up and there is no power in your home. You can’t turn on the lights or television, the freezer is defrosting, and there is no way to cook anything. The wifi is down, phone networks have ceased to operate, and cash machines don’t function. The shops are shut, there is no power for the railways and airports, and hospitals are running on backup generators – but for how long, nobody knows.

The threat of this happening is no longer imaginary; it is being discussed at the highest levels. At recent conferences (all under the Chatham House Rule), speakers have noted that the loss of data transmission could cause UK supply chains across much of the economy to crash – leading to food shortages and widespread civil unrest. It has been firmly stated: this is no longer a hypothetical threat. An attack on critical infrastructure is not a question of if, but when.