Wes Streeting warns Britain must be ready for war 'in 1,000 days' as Russia steps up threats to NATO - but Chancellor will only make 'downpayment' on extra defence spending at Budget

Wes Streeting has warned Britain must be ready for war in little more than 1,000 days as Russia steps up its threats against NATO allies.

The Defence Secretary cautioned that the UK's enemies could be 'in a position to attack' by 2030 as he urged the country to 'prepare for the worst'.

The chilling message came ahead of Wednesday's Budget, at which Chancellor John Healey will reportedly unveil billions of pounds on new defence spending.

He is said to be poised to put more money into the state-owned National Wealth Fund and British Business Bank, with some of the cash then invested in UK defence firms.

The move - which will raise the percentage of the UK's GDP spent on defence - is intended to signal a 'downpayment' on Mr Healey's aim of reaching 3 per cent of GDP on defence spending by 2030.

But the Chancellor is still not expected to lay out full plans for reaching the 3 per cent level, or 3.5 per cent by 2035 - a NATO target, until the Government's spending review next year.

This is despite Mr Healey having quit as defence secretary in Keir Starmer's administration over the issue earlier this year.

Tory shadow chancellor Andrew Griffith has called on Mr Healey to resign if he fails to set out how the Government will reach the 3 per cent mark.

Writing in The Telegraph, Mr Streeting said 'the gravest dangers of the 20th Century are returning, armed with the technologies of the 21st'.

He warned of the 'growing threat of state sponsored terrorism, sabotage and hostile acts designed to disrupt our lives, undermine our security and spread fear in our communities'. 

'To prevent the worst, we have to prepare for it,' he added. 'In the first instance, that means expanding our capabilities so our adversaries think twice about attacking us.

'Should that fail, we must ensure that Britain is ready for war.'

The Defence Secretary said he was '100 per cent confident' that Mr Healey and Prime Minister Andy Burnham would meet the NATO defence spending target.

He added there was a 'lesson' to be drawn from the Ukraine conflict 'where tactics and technologies on the battlefield today are a world away from when the war began just a few years ago'.

'Our adversaries' willingness to harm us is not new. What has changed is their capacity,' Mr Streeting wrote.

'By 2030 their force strength and war economy could put them in a position to attack. 

'That gives us a little over 1,000 days to complete our mission: to be ready with our allies to fight and win. This Government will make sure it is mission accomplished.'

The Sunday Times reported that the increased funding for the National Wealth Fund and British Business Bank would benefit drone manufacturers and military tech firms.

But the move could be controversial as it pushes increased defence spending to long-term borrowing, rather than spending cuts elsewhere - such as to the welfare bill - that the Tories have called for.

James Cartlidge, the Tory shadow defence secretary, said: 'Last year Kemi Badenoch and I announced our plans for a sovereign defence fund.

'A key part of this was to make the National Wealth Fund switch its investment from Net Zero to defence.

'So I welcome Labour copying our idea, particularly if that means getting more cash to UK start-ups and defence tech businesses.

'The main reason we proposed using National Wealth Fund cash as part of our multibillion-pound sovereign defence fund was to accelerate the uncrewed, AI-driven transformation of our Armed Forces.

'But this must be part of a wider funded plan to get to 3 per cent, or there will not be the money needed for other vital areas of defence like training and ammunition stockpiles.'