A joint No.10-Cabinet Office director general, a recent Tory minister, and a former national security adviser to Tony Blair are among six new advisers for the government’s strategic defence review.
They join a team led by former New Labour defence secretary George Robertson, ex-US presidential adviser Dr Fiona Hill, and former joint-forces commander Gen Sir Richard Barrons.
The defence review was ordered by new prime minister Keir Starmer on 16 July following Labour’s general election success on 4 July and has been earmarked for completion in the first half of 2025.
One of the new reviewers is Jean-Christophe Gray, who is director general for delivery at No.10 and Cabinet Office. Gray is a former director of public spending at the Treasury, and an ex-spokesperson for David Cameron during his time as prime minister. The MoD said he brings “significant Treasury and cross-government expertise” to the team.
Sir Jeremy Quin, a former defence and Cabinet Office minister who lost his seat as a Conservative MP in July’s general election, has also joined the team. Quin was minister for defence procurement under Boris Johnson and later minister for the Cabinet Office under Rishi Sunak, where he had responsibility for the government commercial function. Most recently, he was chair of parliament's Defence Select Committee. The MoD said he brings “significant expertise in acquisition”.
Another of the new reviewers is Angus Lapsley, the NATO assistant secretary general for defence policy and planning. Lapsley has over 30 years of experience in the civil service and diplomatic service. He is known as the senior civil servant who left secret MoD documents at a bus stop in Kent. The MoD said he will bring “significant expertise on NATO” to the review.
Also among the team’s recruits is Grace Cassy, a former adviser on national security to Tony Blair during his time as prime minister. The MoD said she will provide “significant technology expertise”.
The other two picks are Edward Dinsmore, a partner at consultancy Korn Ferry who has led previous pan-defence reviews for the chief of defence staff; and Robin Marshall, who is a partner at US investment firm Bain Capital and a non-executive director at the MoD. The MoD said both bring significant expertise, Dinsmore “on people” and Marshall “in industry”.
Lead reviewer Lord Robertson said the additions “provide an incredibly valuable range of experience across the defence and security sectors, both in the UK and internationally” and that their role in the review process will be “invaluable”.
“As the threats facing Britain continue to evolve, we must be clear-eyed about the defensive capabilities we need for the future,” he added. “The work of our review is already under way and will deliver a clear vision for UK defence.”
The MoD said the review is “already under way at pace”. The department is inviting public submissions “to help shape future of UK defence” until the end of September. It said it is welcoming submissions from “serving and retired members of the armed forces, the defence industry, the general public, academics, parliament, and our closest allies and partners, especially in NATO”.