Labour’s Lord Owen: Quit the EU and spend the extra MILLIONS on Nato defences

A SENIOR Labour Lord has warned that Britain's continued membership of the European Union (EU) is harming Nato's ability to defend the UK from Russian aggression.

Former foreign secretary and founder of the SDP David Owen claimed diplomats in Brussels were involved in a "soft shoe shuffle…to diminish Nato and pretend that the EU can fill what is fast becoming a yawning gap in allied military capability in Europe".

Speaking in London last night, the Labour grandee said a Brexit would allow the UK to divert millions of pounds to the North Atlantic military alliance, which is considered Britain's primary military partnership.

He said Nato remained "the most effective international defence command and control organisation in the world" and should not be superseded by a European Defence Force.

Citing recent reports of a German paper circulating in Brussels and Berlin that is said to contain detailed plans for an EU military headquarters and shared military assets, he predicted: "It will come into effect without the UK and regardless of whether we vote to leave or remain because under the EU Treaties there is now the provision for enhanced co-operation."

However, Remain campaign group Britain Stronger in Europe insist membership of the EU "complements Nato" and that Britain is given a stronger negotiating hand as a partner in the 28-member Brussels bloc, enabling the UK to better influence EU foreign policy.

EU membership also strengthens Britain's relationship with the US, the world's largest military superpower, the in campaign say, as well as boosting counter-terrorism efforts by easing the sharing of intelligence information.

Five ex-Nato secretary-generals earlier delivered a joint message that leaving the EU would “give succour to the west’s enemies”.

Separately, 13 former defence and foreign affairs chiefs claimed that Britain’s “place and influence in the world would be dismissed and Europe would be dangerously weakened” if the UK backed a Brexit.

Nato’s current secretary general Jens Stoltenberg has also warned against creating “a more fragmented security environment” in Europe by quitting the EU.

But Lord Owen yesterday insisted that a European military force would clash with the US-led Nato operation, creating a two-tier defence alliance which would split resources and benefit Russia.

He added: "While the EU is dysfunctional, Nato is not dysfunctional.

"Nato would benefit today from a solely committed British voice not one hovering between it and the incredible concept of EU defence."

Urging all Nato members to meet the current spending target of two per cent of GDP, he said: "In Europe we are sleepwalking in relation to security questions and the situation is not stable.

"There is no shadow of doubt that all European Nato member states should now increase their defence budgets."