For decades, British defence policy has willed the end but not the means. Prime ministers have made soaring speeches, filled with promises to strengthen the Armed Forces, but without demonstrating how all the glittering equipment programmes will be paid for.

Incredibly, not even Europe’s biggest war since 1945 has been enough to end this dismal pattern. Sir Keir Starmer duly announced a Strategic Defence Review (SDR) replete with grandiose phrases (a “battle-ready, armour-clad nation”) but no new money.

The Prime Minister could only restate his existing pledge to spend 2.5 per cent of GDP on defence by 2027, with an “ambition” to hit 3 per cent “in the next Parliament”, which means by 2034.

So what should have been done? The answer can be summed up in three words: money, mass and drones.