Andy Burnham is under pressure to level with the British public about the danger posed by Russia’s so-called shadow war against NATO nations.
Tory leader Kemi Badenoch and Reform UK leader Nigel Farage have both urged the Prime Minister to explain more clearly how the Government intends to protect the UK.
Their calls come after warnings that Russia may be preparing hybrid attacks involving drones or rockets against European countries backing Ukraine.
This week, NATO fighter pilots shot down a drone reportedly entering Lithuanian airspace from neighbouring Belarus, a close Russian ally.
Speaking on Thursday, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk suggested the Kremlin could seek to portray attacks on Ukraine’s allies as “accidental”, as part of an effort to “paralyse or at least weaken the motivation of NATO countries”.
In France, President Emmanuel Macron was expected to hold talks with opposition leaders at the Elysee Palace on Friday.
Andy Burnham is facing demands to come clean with Brits about the threat being posed by Russia’s ‘shadow’ war against NATO allies
It follows warnings that Russia’s Vladimir Putin is planning hybrid strikes with drones or rockets on European countries supporting Ukraine
The meeting is expected to examine the implications for France of the “rapid deterioration” in the international situation, against the backdrop of the continuing Ukraine conflict and the Iran war.
Mr Macron is reportedly prepared to share intelligence available only to him in his capacity as head of state.
At the beginning of this month, Germany said Russia was responsible for a drone attack at Leipzig’s airport in August and said it expected to be targeted again.
Berlin is said to be stepping up preparations for its hospitals in a potential conflict with Russia.
The German army chief has previously warned the country must be ready for a Russian attack by 2029 or even earlier.
In a post on X, Mrs Badenoch urged Mr Burnham and the Labour Government to match the ‘growing urgency’ of NATO allies in stepping up military preparations and boosting defence spending.
Following talks with Mr Burnham, Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband and Defence Secretary Wes Streeting this week, NATO secretary general Mark Rutte called on the Government to set out a ‘credible path’ to spending 3.5 per cent of GDP on defence by 2035.
The Government has so far only budgeted to hike defence spending to 2.7 per cent of GDP by 2027/28, but there are no firm details on how further increases will be achieved beyond that date despite 3.5 per cent by 2035 being a NATO target.
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Chancellor John Healey quit as defence secretary in Keir Starmer’s administration in a row over funding, arguing that it was necessary to reach 3 per cent by 2030.
‘Macron and Tusk are speaking and acting with an urgency that makes the latest reports about Russia violating Lithuanian airspace even more concerning,’ Mrs Badenoch wrote.
‘It is not clear that the Government is taking the threat from Russia seriously enough.
‘Its own intelligence assessment says an attack on NATO could come by 2030, while repeated smaller-scale incursions are already taking place.
‘It comes only weeks after CIA Director John Ratcliffe made an unannounced visit to Moscow, reportedly to warn Russia against attacking a NATO member.
‘Our European allies are responding with growing urgency, yet the Government still will not say what it intends to do on defence.
‘The NATO Secretary General was in Britain only yesterday calling for that path to be set out, and I agree with him.
‘The Conservatives set out two weeks ago both our route to higher defence spending at 3 per cent of GDP and how we would pay for it.
‘The Government should now explain what it knows about the escalations in Eastern Europe, how it assesses the threat and what it plans to do.
‘We will put national security first and work with the Government where necessary.
‘But when our own PM talks of national security not coming at the expense of social security, Labour MPs should remember: this was heard not only in Westminster or Manchester; it was also heard in Moscow.’
Mr Farage urged Mr Burnham to copy Mr Macron’s example and brief opposition parties on the threats to national security.
The Reform leader said in a statement: ‘Given how seriously the French Government is taking Russian drone threats, it is fair to ask, are we doing enough?
‘It’s high time the Government started taking this threat seriously and briefed opposition leaders on the threats and consequences for UK security.’