Enda Brady: UK correspondent on the UK warship not arriving in Cyprus until next week

The UK is preparing a British warship to protect a military base in Cyprus, but it's not expected to sail until next week, according to new reports.

The HMS Dragon is being loaded with ammunition in Portsmouth, as defensive capabilities in Cyprus are set to increase amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. 

UK correspondent Enda Brady has voiced concerns about what this means for the UK's military.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
In the Brady's Ow UK correspondent high Enda.

Speaker 2 (00:03):
Hey, Heather, great to speak to you again.

Speaker 1 (00:04):
Is this vessel going to Cyprus not sailing until next week?

Speaker 2 (00:08):
Yes, that's exactly it, so big change of plans. It
had been earmarked for another operation they've had to cancel that,
change things around, put different weapons on board. Look, we're
given all sorts of excuses as to why it's taking
so long, but I think the events of the last
few days here have really highlighted here just how kind
of off the pace the UK military is in terms

(00:32):
of everything, In terms of absolutely everything operational deployment. They
don't have a single vessel anywhere in the Middle East,
and that's the first time in fifty years. So that
should give people an indication of just how little money
and interest has been paid to the UK military for
a couple of decades.

Speaker 1 (00:50):
I guess I mean, obviously embarrassing for you guys and
not what you want, but also probably the hurry up
that you need, don't you think.

Speaker 2 (00:57):
Yeah, And look, they've had four years of a war
or in Ukraine to start planning and start getting things
at operational level and just even down to how you
deal with drones just for example, what the Uranians are
firing costs twenty six thousand dollars a pop. What the
Brits have been firing at them cost two million dollars
a pop. So economically, who's winning that argument? I mean,

(01:18):
they need to start learning. They need to sit down
with the Ukrainians who figured out how to bring down
drones really really quickly and cheaply, and the UK military
just needs an upgrade because this is not good.

Speaker 1 (01:30):
How weak does Stama look at the moment?

Speaker 2 (01:33):
Really weak? Another flip flop of the weekend, you know,
initially telling the Americans they couldn't use British air bases
and then very quickly changing his mind. Trump's roth came
very quickly and has not stopped since. So domestically weak,
and he's starting to look weak on the international front
as well. So you know, make a decision, stick to
a decision, deliver the plan, and he seems quite incapable

(01:55):
of doing anything really.

Speaker 1 (01:57):
Into How serious does this news that three men have
been a risk on suspicion of spying for China.

Speaker 2 (02:03):
Yeah, and this again is embarrassing for the Prime Minister
because from what I'm hearing, all three are connected to
the Labor Party and Starmer was in Beijing just a
couple of weeks ago, first UK prime minister heading there
in eight years, and of course he signed off on
China's massive new embassy plan in London, which will be
their biggest embassy anywhere in the world. So it does
not look good. Three men arrested, properties searched in London

(02:27):
and in Wales and one in Scotland. And the man
in Scotland who was arrested, I understand is the husband
of a female Labor MP. Now obviously it's a live
police investigation. They're in custody. But again, you know, this
story keeps repeating itself, people in and around Parliament being
picked off and arrested by counter terrorism cups and the
allegation always is that they're spying for China.

Speaker 1 (02:50):
Is it William? Is this your understanding that it's William
who's kept Andrew's daughters away from scott.

Speaker 2 (02:56):
Yes, that's what the whisper is. So Beatrice and usually
have been told do not appear, not in the carriage procession,
don't go racing, don't be at Royal ascot And I
think what you're seeing is William doing all the housekeeping
that his dad should have been doing many many years ago,
and indeed his grandmother as well. So William is the
new broom sweeping clean before he even gets into the house.

Speaker 1 (03:17):
Is it fear on them though they've done nothing wrong?

Speaker 2 (03:21):
Well, you say that. I would advise people to go
pick up a copy of a book called Entitled by
Andrew Loney. My understanding is he's currently working on a
follow up book called Untitled, and have a read around
and just look at the behavior. Basically, I think once
they remove Andrew from the line of succession, there will

(03:41):
be no choice but to takeout Beatrice and usually as well,
and the entire house of York falls and people can say,
you know, the sins of the father whatever. These are
fully grown women now, and you know their mother took
them to visit Epstein the week he got out of
prison for abusing girls. You just couldn't make this up.
I just think the whole house of your custod goal.

Speaker 1 (04:01):
Inda, thank you very much for time, mate, look after
yourself over there. I Inde Brady, our UK correspondent.

Speaker 2 (04:06):
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