The Standard View: Nato is strong when we need it the most

Christian Adams
WEST END FINAL

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For an organisation described by France’s Emmanuel Macron as ‘brain dead’ in 2019, Nato is showing real signs of life. Indeed, spurred on by Vladimir Putin’s illegal invasion of Ukraine, the alliance has rarely been more relevant.

It is also growing. Finland and Sweden, both of whom already take part in Nato exercises, are set to join. Britain is stepping up, not only in support for Ukraine itself — where our commitment has risen to £2 billion — but for our allies in the Baltics, sending an additional 1,000 troops to bolster the defence of Estonia. Meanwhile, Germany, with the largest economy in Europe, is to spend two per cent of its GDP on defence. These developments are the opposite of what Moscow intended.

The Foreign Secretary spoke for many when she urged all members to meet that target. While the United States remains this continent’s most vital ally, we cannot afford to pass the buck wholesale to the Americans.

Of course, the situation in Ukraine remains urgent. US intelligence suggests that Putin still wants to seize most of the country, even if his military’s capacity to do so has been badly weakened. As such, our resolve — and that of our partners — must not waiver. The Madrid Summit illustrates the strength of unity among Nato members.

The Prime Minister is right to urge our allies to modernise and restore Europe’s deterrence, as the next decade is likely to be more dangerous and unpredictable than the last.

Executive stress

The subject of executive pay in the public sector is always a sensitive one. But during a cost-of-living crisis, and when the particular organisation is in the middle of a difficult negotiation with the Government over a bailout, it is especially delicate.

The Evening Standard has today revealed that 600 executives at Transport for London earned more than £100,000 last year — including a record-breaking £626,000 to an ousted director, Vernon Everitt, who left TfL in February after a boardroom shake-up designed to save cash.

There are some important caveats. These figures relate to total remuneration, and bonuses were delayed during the pandemic as TfL suffered huge losses. But the revelations will undoubtedly cause difficulties for the Mayor as he seeks to secure a final bailout for TfL alongside a long-term capital funding deal to upgrade the Tube and bus network and repair major roads and bridges.

At a time of threats to services and soaring inflation, Londoners will read these figures and weep.

The right to abortion

Yesterday, Tory MP Danny Kruger stood up in the House of Commons and declared he did not believe women have “an absolute right to bodily autonomy” during a debate over the US Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe v Wade, the constitutional right to abortion.

In today’s comment pages, Caroline Nokes MP, the Conservative chair of the women and equalities and committee, hit back. Abortion is health care — women must retain autonomy over their bodies. Outlawing the procedure will not lead to fewer abortions, only fewer safer ones, with the consequential threat to health and life.

It is an essential human right.

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