Unpopular governments always retreat to grounds of lazy convenience. Instead of engaging in exercises of courage, they take refuge in obvious distractions. And there is no more obvious distraction than preparing for war against a phantom enemy.

The government is set to unveil plans to put the country on war footing, as its defence review warns that Britain should be ready for war in Europe or the Atlantic.Sir Keir Starmer will pledge to build up to 12 new nuclear-powered attack submarines and invest £15 billion in the nation’s warhead programme,