Shadow Defence Minister Mark Francois has branded the Government's Strategic Defence Review an "utter train crash" following the publication of the comprehensive defence strategy.

Speaking on GB News, Francois criticised the review as "an IOU without any real cash" due to the Government's failure to guarantee spending three per cent of GDP on defence.

He argued that the review's authors stated that delivering all 62 recommendations required a commitment to spend three per cent of GDP, "and then this plan is affordable".

The strategy establishes a "Nato-first defence policy" with the UK's "biggest contribution" to the military alliance since 1949.

Mark Francois blasted the new defence review

Key commitments include creating a hybrid Royal Navy using aircraft, drones, warships and submarines to patrol the north Atlantic "and beyond".

The Government promises a "10-times more lethal" army combining air defence, artificial intelligence, long-range weapons and land drone swarms, alongside a "next generation" RAF with new F-35 jets, Typhoon jets and autonomous aircraft.

Speaking to GB News, the shadow defence minister said: “The prime minister gave a press conference this morning outside of the commons in Scotland against every rule in the book. He was asked repeatedly, will you guarantee to spend 3 percent of GDP and he ducked it every single time.

“So this is an IOU; it's a promissory note without real cash. If you won't promise to spend the money then this doesn't work.

"There was pandemonium in the commons this afternoon when it was revealed that journalists were given this at 10.30 this morning, long before any MP saw it, long before the opposition were allowed to see it.

“Then we found out that a number of industrialists were given this at eight o'clock this morning, just as the markets were opening.

"Now that's a very serious matter, because some people, if they had insider knowledge, could have traded on that basis, and this was long before MPs got any sight of it at all. And I'm sure that this is not going to rest there.

“I know the people who run Babcock, they are very decent people. But someone else who found out that information might have been able to take advantage of it.

“Even if, for argument's sake, you could do it for 3 per cent, the Government won't promise that. So in other words, you can't deliver it."

Francois extended his criticism beyond defence spending to broader Government priorities, questioning the allocation of resources.

Mark Francois spoke to Martin Daubney on GB News

He criticised the decision to "give £30 billion of British taxpayers' money to Mauritius in order to rent back an island that belongs to us in the first place", describing it as the MoD having "just taken leave of their senses".

The shadow minister also attacked the Government's handling of border control and the EU fishing deal. He referenced Defence Secretary Healey's weekend admission that "we have lost control of our borders", adding: "Well, you jolly well have, mate."

Francois highlighted the contrast between giving France "nearly a half a billion pounds" to prevent Channel crossings whilst French police were "taking selfies of each other on the beach" as migrants boarded boats.

He supported calls to "rip up the fish deal" unless France begins "enforcing stopping the boats".