Things getting nasty in Whitehall.
Politico London Playbook:
Tim Shipman’s weekly dispatch from the crumbling center of government lifts the lid on a growing rift between No. 10 and Chief of Defence Staff Richard Knighton, who officials slam as a “a process man, not a war fighter.” In his
Spectator piece*, Shipman claims Knighton advised against sending warships to the eastern Mediterranean because “we have an aircraft carrier — it’s called Cyprus.” The briefings only get nastier: Knighton is painted as “not very competent” and a “bean counter” who “failed to count the beans” after leaving the MoD budget unresolved as the Iran war broke.
Knighton fights on: A government spokesperson hit back last night, calling the allegations “incorrect and ridiculous” and stressing that Knighton is “hugely respected across defense and government.” Three other defense figures also dismissed the briefings when speaking to Playbook. That Lobby briefing is going to be quite the show.
*
https://archive.is/20260312064411/ht...ser-to-the-eu/