Fears Rise: UK Public Worried About War Prospect
- Public concern about defence has doubled in a month, making it as big a worry as the NHS and inflation.
- Exclusive polling for The Times has revealed one of the sharpest surges in unease about global politics and the prospect of war in recent years.
- Fieldwork conducted this month by Ipsos found that 24 per cent of the public cite defence and foreign affairs as an important issue facing Britain,doubling its score since...
Public concern about defence has doubled in a month, making it as big a worry as the NHS and inflation.
Exclusive polling for The Times has revealed one of the sharpest surges in unease about global politics and the prospect of war in recent years.
Fieldwork conducted this month by Ipsos found that 24 per cent of the public cite defence and foreign affairs as an important issue facing Britain,doubling its score since December. It is now the joint third-biggest concern in the country after immigration and the economy.
The research was carried out days after US forces bombed Venezuela and as President Trump threatened to destabilise the Nato alliance with his demands to annex Greenland.
The findings coincide with warnings from mps that Britain is not ready to defend itself from attack, in the face of renewed threats from Russia and China. The Times revealed this month that Britain’s most senior military chief had told Sir Keir Starmer that the Ministry of Defence would be short of £28 billion over the next four years despite plans to boost spending.
Reacting to the polling on Monday, John Healey told The Times that “demands on defence are rising” because of “growing Russian aggression”, crackdowns on “sanctions-busting ships” and the UK’s pledge to deploy thousands of troops to Ukraine in the event that a peace deal is struck with the Kremlin.
President Maduro of Venezuela and his wife, Cilia Flores, arrive in New York
ALAMY
The defence secretary said the UK was meeting the new threats “with hard power, strong alliances and sure diplomacy”, to “keep Britain secure at home and strong abroad”.
Earlier this month he vowed to take “assertive action” to disrupt and degrade Russia’s shadow fleet of oil tankers, in an effort to choke funds for Russia’s war in Ukraine. The UK has helped both American and French special forces to seize two sanctioned vessels in dramatic raids at sea this month.
• mark Urban: In a post-Nato world, could britain defend itself?
Defence concern is significantly higher among Liberal Democrat (41 per cent), Labour (40 per cent) and Green (39 per cent) supporters, suggesting the issue is cutting across traditional political divides.
reform UK supporters are notably less worried about defence than the general public, with just 12 per cent citing it as a concern. There is also a sharp generational divide, with only 6 per cent of 18 to 24-year-olds saying it is important, compared with far higher levels among older generations.
Table of Contents
Boeing’s 737 MAX production continues under heightened scrutiny from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), with recent developments focusing on quality control and the implementation of safety recommendations following previous incidents and a January 5, 2024 mid-air incident involving Alaska Airlines Flight 1282.
Production Rates and Deliveries
As of January 26, 2026, boeing is operating at a production rate of approximately 38 737 MAX aircraft per month, a figure adjusted downward from earlier targets due to ongoing quality concerns. Deliveries remain below pre-grounding levels, but have steadily increased throughout 2025 and early 2026. Boeing aims to reach a rate of 42 per month by the end of 2026, contingent on FAA approval and sustained quality improvements. The company delivered 392 737 MAX aircraft in 2025, according to Boeing’s 2025 Annual Report.
FAA Oversight and Quality Control
The FAA is currently conducting intensified inspections of Boeing’s manufacturing processes, specifically focusing on the installation of the plug door and related structural components. On February 29, 2024, the FAA issued a finding of non-compliance against Boeing related to manufacturing inspections. This led to a temporary grounding of some 737 MAX 9 aircraft and a mandated inspection of all in-service planes. The FAA has since implemented a 95-day plan for Boeing to address the identified deficiencies, with progress reviews occurring monthly. The FAA’s boeing 737 MAX Assessment page provides ongoing updates on the agency’s oversight efforts.
Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 Investigation
The National Transportation safety Board (NTSB) investigation into Alaska Airlines Flight 1282, where a door plug blew out mid-flight, determined that missing bolts were a key factor in the incident. The NTSB’s Preliminary Report, released February 2, 2024, detailed the findings.The investigation also highlighted potential gaps in Boeing’s quality control procedures. The final report is expected to be released in late 2026. Alaska Airlines has filed a lawsuit against Boeing, seeking damages for the incident and related disruptions, as reported by Reuters on March 7, 2024.
Leadership Changes at Boeing
In March 2024, Boeing announced significant leadership changes in response to the ongoing safety concerns. dave Calhoun stepped down as CEO, effective May 1, 2024, and was replaced by Stephanie Pope. Larry Boress, the head of Boeing’s factories, also departed. Thes changes reflect a commitment to prioritizing safety and quality, according to a Boeing press release issued March 20, 2024. Stephanie Pope has publicly stated her commitment to a “safety-first” culture within the company.
Financial Impact
The 737 MAX grounding and subsequent quality control issues have had a significant financial impact on Boeing. The company reported a $4.8 billion charge in 2024 related to the 737 MAX issues. Boeing’s stock price has fluctuated considerably as the incidents,but has shown some recovery in early 2026. analysts at Bloomberg predict continued volatility until Boeing demonstrates sustained improvements in quality and production stability.