Keir Starmer’s decision to scrap plans to replace 13 ageing Royal Navy ships in favour of drones in his Defence Investment Plan (DIP) has sparked fury. The DIP reportedly no longer includes money for up to eight Type 83 destroyers or five Type 32 frigates.

Instead, autonomous vehicles will be given greater priority as the Government moves towards modernising Britain’s Armed Forces amid a rising threat from Russia and others.

But Shadow Defence Secretary James Cartlidge told the Daily Express: “This is all too little, too late from Labour on defence.”

He added: “If correct, these reports suggest Labour’s long-delayed defence plan will have barely any more cash than the previous one – which their own former defence secretary, John Healey, said in his resignation letter would make Britain ‘less safe’. How can that situation have changed with such a small addition of cash?

“So it’s no surprise we are hearing reports of capabilities being scrapped, just at the time we are meant to be strengthening our Armed Forces.”

Defence Secretary Dan Jarvis indicated on Saturday that talks with the Treasury over the DIP had moved forward in recent days.

Mr Jarvis’ predecessor quit his Cabinet post earlier this month because the DIP was only due to provide £13.5billion extra investment in defence, which he said fell “well short” of what was needed.

Reports suggest just £1bn has been added to the DIP since Mr Healey quit over the amount he was offered.

Mr Cartlidge said: “As is now glaringly obvious, the lack of cash on offer for defence is because Labour prioritised welfare spending over properly funding our military.”

He added: “This is a big part of why Starmer had to resign, and after delaying the DIP for months he’s suddenly rushing it through at the last minute in a desperate bid to secure some kind of legacy.

“This is no way to run a country and the brilliant men and women of our Armed Forces deserve much better.”

The Royal Navy’s Type 45 air defence destroyers were set to be retired by the end of the 2030s and replaced with Type 83s.

Type 32 frigates have not even emerged from the concept stage. They were due to be used as launchpads for mine-hunting and anti-submarine drones.

Ministers plan to plug a gap in the number of frigates by creating a new, “uncrewed systems taskforce” based at a drone facility in Swindon, according to The Times, which first reported Sir Keir’s plan to scrap the ships’ replacement.

Sir Keir is expected to press ahead with publishing the DIP before a NATO summit on July 7. This is despite major policy and spending commitments being paused across Government in preparation for the transition of power to a new PM in the coming weeks.

The move could potentially cause friction with his likely successor, Andy Burnham, who may want to have the final say on future funding for the military.

The Government said it is delivering a generational increase in defence spending, with an extra £270bn across this parliament.

It added: “The DIP will deliver the best kit into the hands of our Armed Forces. Work on the plan is continuing at pace to finalise and publish it ahead of the NATO summit.”