DUP leader Gavin Robinson says many will find it 'alarming' that UK Government war plan not updated in over 25 years

The shocking revelations came despite mounting threats from Russia to NATO members and warnings from Donald Trump that he may forcibly seize Greenland – which is part of the NATO state of Denmark.

Gavin Robinson MP was speaking after revelations by the head of the UK Armed Forces, Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Knighton, to MPs on the Westminster Defence Select Committee on Monday.

Sir Richard’s most stunning revelation was his confirmation that the UK has yet to revive a modern version of the Government War Book.

Drawn up during the First World War and maintained until the turn of the century, this was a comprehensive plan for the whole country - from the armed forces, hospitals, police, industry and schools - on how it would transition from peace to war.

Asked if we should have one, he replied: "Yeah, absolutely. And the government is committed to doing that."

Pushed on why the UK does not have one, he said: "I think that it is a manifestation of the peace dividend... since the end of the Cold War, we have not prioritised those matters."

The Cabinet office is working on the overall War Book and details of the NHS aspect should begin to emerge in 12-18 months, he said, but the military component will be finalised this year, Sky News reported.

The chief of the defence staff also confirmed that the Ministry of Defence lacks funding to cover its equipment programme as well as additional ambitions set out in a sweeping review of defence published in June.

Sir Richard also expressed frustration as he was pressed on reports that he had warned the prime minister before Christmas that defence has a £28bn hole over the next four years.

Having served on the House of Commons Defence Committee for eight years – stepping down just last year – DUP leader Gavin Robinson said the comments of the Chief of Defence staff are “no surprise - but should be starkly alarming for those who assume our defence capacity is greater, stronger or more resilient than it is".

He added: “For decades, successive Governments have relied on collective NATO deterrence rather than support and grow our Sovereign capability. In an increasingly volatile world, that is not sustainable.

"In the 1980s, we invested the same level of GDP in Defence as Health and Education. As a share of GDP, Education spend has remained steady, Health has increased by 50%, whilst Defence has more than halved. In the last 20 years, the head count of our Armed Forces has reduced by a third.

“That trajectory isn’t set to change anytime soon but the Chief of the Defence Staff highlights an even greater frailty. His suggestion that we have neither the ability or capacity to respond medically or societally is matched by the revelation that the Government's War Book (plan) to transition from Peace to War has not been revised since the turn of the Century!”

It is common knowledge, he said, the pressures the NHS faces daily and how extreme that can become with annual cycles of the flu – but society also relies on the armed forces in times of pandemic or crisis.

The MP noted that Labour committed to address these challenges the June Strategic Defence Review, but “haven’t funded it”.