Andy Burnham is facing demands to come clean with Britons about the threat being posed by Russia's 'shadow' war against Nato allies.

Both Tory leader Kemi Badenoch and Reform UK's Nigel Farage have called on the Prime Minister to set out in greater detail how he plans to keep the UK safe.

It follows warnings that Russia is planning hybrid strikes with drones or rockets on European countries supporting Ukraine.

NATO fighter pilots this week shot down a drone that was said to have entered Lithuania's airspace from neighbouring Belarus, an ally of Russia.

In a speech on Thursday, Poland's PM Donald Tusk suggested Moscow will pretend attacks on Ukrainian allies are 'accidental' in its attempt to 'paralyse or at least weaken the motivation of NATO countries'.

Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron was expected to convene a meeting at the Elysee Palace with opposition leaders on Friday.

The talks will reportedly focus on the consequences for France of the 'rapid deterioration' in the global situation amid the ongoing Ukraine conflict and Iran war.

Mr Macron is said to be ready to share intelligence that he currently only has access to as head of state.

At the beginning of this month, Germany said Russia was responsible for a drone attack at Leipzig's airport in August and said it expected to be targeted again.

Berlin is said to be stepping up preparations for its hospitals in a potential conflict with Russia.

The German army chief has previously warned the country must be ready for a Russian attack by 2029 or even earlier.

In a post on X, Mrs Badenoch urged Mr Burnham and the Labour Government to match the 'growing urgency' of NATO allies in stepping up military preparations and boosting defence spending.

Following talks with Mr Burnham, Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband and Defence Secretary Wes Streeting this week, NATO secretary general Mark Rutte called on the Government to set out a 'credible path' to spending 3.5 per cent of GDP on defence by 2035.

The Government has so far only budgeted to hike defence spending to 2.7 per cent of GDP by 2027/28, but there are no firm details on how further increases will be achieved beyond that date despite 3.5 per cent by 2035 being a NATO target.

Chancellor John Healey quit as defence secretary in Keir Starmer's administration in a row over funding, arguing that it was necessary to reach 3 per cent by 2030.

'Macron and Tusk are speaking and acting with an urgency that makes the latest reports about Russia violating Lithuanian airspace even more concerning,' Mrs Badenoch wrote.

'It is not clear that the Government is taking the threat from Russia seriously enough. 

'Its own intelligence assessment says an attack on NATO could come by 2030, while repeated smaller-scale incursions are already taking place.

'It comes only weeks after CIA Director John Ratcliffe made an unannounced visit to Moscow, reportedly to warn Russia against attacking a NATO member.

'Our European allies are responding with growing urgency, yet the Government still will not say what it intends to do on defence.

'The NATO Secretary General was in Britain only yesterday calling for that path to be set out, and I agree with him.

'The Conservatives set out two weeks ago both our route to higher defence spending at 3 per cent of GDP and how we would pay for it.

'The Government should now explain what it knows about the escalations in Eastern Europe, how it assesses the threat and what it plans to do.

'We will put national security first and work with the Government where necessary. 

'But when our own PM talks of national security not coming at the expense of social security, Labour MPs should remember: this was heard not only in Westminster or Manchester; it was also heard in Moscow.'

Mr Farage urged Mr Burnham to copy Mr Macron's example and brief opposition parties on the threats to national security.

The Reform leader said in a statement: 'Given how seriously the French Government is taking Russian drone threats, it is fair to ask, are we doing enough?

'It's high time the Government started taking this threat seriously and briefed opposition leaders on the threats and consequences for UK security.'

A Ministry of Defence spokesperson said: 'Russia should be in no doubt about the resolve of this Government to stand against Russian aggression, in Ukraine and against the UK and our allies.

'The Government has overseen the biggest sustained increase in defence spending since the Cold War, including investing £750million into counter-drone equipment and protection for our Armed Forces, both at home and deployed overseas.'

In his first statement to the House of Commons as Defence Secretary last week, Mr Streeting told MPs: 'The threats we face are not only evolving; they are getting closer to home.

'Every day, the UK and our allies encounter espionage, cyber-attacks and military posturing by hostile states.'

He added: 'Alongside these threats comes the bellicose rhetoric that we hear from the Kremlin.

'Russia is constantly probing us and testing us, and the tragic irony of where we find ourselves is that Russia sees the UK and NATO as a threat that, in reality, simply does not exist.

'The UK is not at war with Russia, nor do we seek confrontation with Russia, and nor do we have any quarrel with the Russian people.

'All we seek to do is to defend freedom, democracy, our interests, our allies and our values.

'Contrary to the propaganda, NATO has always been a defensive alliance, and if there is one thing that President Putin has achieved through the war in Ukraine, it has been to strengthen NATO and our commitment to our collective defence and security.

'Moscow should be in no doubt that we are ready to defend every inch of NATO, should Russia attack.'

A Labour source said: 'Glad to hear Nigel Farage has woken up to the threat posed by Russia.

'It's a shame that when the Defence Secretary updated Parliament and took questions on it last week, he didn't bother to show up.'