All articles written by Lord Beamish on PoliticsHome.com

12 Jan Foreign affairs

We must be as ruthless as Beijing in using all means available to protect our national security

The collapsed China spy case, the doubt about a new Chinese embassy and China’s takeover of UK companies have dominated the headlines in recent months. But our relationship with China is not a new debate.

11 Apr 2025 Defence

The US should remember the UK has unique intelligence capabilities

Many in the intelligence community will have been shaken by the accidental sharing of sensitive military information by Trump's advisers

03 Nov 2023 Defence

AI can aid defence, but must be governed by the highest standards

Artificial intelligence (AI) and its implications for our future have certainly caught the public’s interest recently, whether it’s curiosity about applications such as ChatGPT or dystopian predictions of a machine-run future.

18 Apr 2023 Books & culture

Gripping and insightful – Kevan Jones reviews 'Agents of Influence: How the KGB Subverted Western Democracies'

Mark Hollingsworth’s study of how the KGB sought to undermine western democracies demonstrates that Russian interference is nothing new

01 Jul 2021 Economy

A sea change is needed for government to fulfil shipbuilding promises

British shipbuilding does not have to be a story of the past, it can be a story for tomorrow. And it can be one of an exciting, high tech and high skilled future for our coastal communities.

09 Feb 2021 Defence

Without being credibly costed, the Integrated Review risks reducing Britain’s foreign policy to ‘virtue signalling and symbolism’

I fear the absence of a credible Defence and Equipment Plan could risk the Integrated Review immediately unravelling.

27 Jan 2020 Defence

After Brexit, we should consider an ambitious defence relationship with Australia

With Australia at the top of the list for Trade Agreements, we must take advantage of Brexit to look at how we can make ourselves safer, support our defence industries and tackle globalised threats, writes Kevan Jones MP.

14 Feb 2019 Defence

Monday’s speech was just another in a long line of content-light ill-judged interventions by this Defence Secretary

Former Defence minister Labour’s Kevan Jones writes that Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson’s vision may appeal to the selectorate of a future Tory leader, but is one that has little relevance to the challenges facing Britain and our allies.

15 Nov 2018 Defence

The Chancellor should acknowledge that his Government is responsible for the defence funding crisis

Former Defence minister Kevan Jones assesses the detail behind the Budget and the publication of the Defence Equipment Plan.

08 Nov 2018 Defence

Ignore the angry and the ill-informed and support the Poppy Appeal

Support the Poppy Appeal to remember those whose sacrifice helped to build the freedoms we now enjoy, says Kevan Jones MP.

01 Feb 2018 Defence

How the Tories created a defence funding crisis

Labour MP and former Defence Minister Kevan Jones says years of rushed through defence spending cuts and bad decisions have now come home to roost.