An over-ambitious liability...

AS POLICE continue to investigate the Salisbury poisonings, the Government is planning how to respond if it is proved that the Russian state was responsible.

In such circumstances, I wish I had more faith in our novice Defence Secretary, Gavin Williamson. Since his appointment four months ago, he has shown poor judgment.

First, he appalled senior military figures by revealing sensitive information about the Russian threat in what looked like a cack-handed attempt to distract attention from embarrassing revelations that he became close to a female office colleague during the early years of his marriage.

Then he self-aggrandisingly announced that he planned to challenge China by sending a British warship through the South China Sea — which must have had the Chinese quaking in their boots!

Most worryingly, I understand that Mr Williamson’s relations with his military chiefs of staff are poor.

I’m told he has taken to summoning them to his office and berating them in front of junior colleagues. Apparently, senior generals are so alarmed that they may raise their concerns with No. 10.

Mr Williamson makes little secret of his ambition to be prime minister one day. Let me tell him, if he continues alienating so many people, he’ll be lucky to stay in his present job, let alone make it to Downing Street.

As the storm clouds gather, Britain needs a wise head as Defence Secretary. Not an inexperienced lightweight who is consumed by his own vaulting ambitions.