Keir Starmer dodged demands for a cast-iron commitment to spend 3 per cent of GDP on defence today as he unveils a push to get Britain ‘war-ready’.
The PM is heralding a strategic review of the UK’s military, promising investment in new submarines, munitions and personnel.
He has warned that the mounting threat from Russia and allies such as Iran and North Korea means the country must ramp up preparations. Sir Keir argued this morning that being poised for conflict is the best way of avoiding it.
But the blueprint is predicated on spending reaching 3 per cent in the next decade – with the premier admitting that depends on meeting Labour‘s ‘fiscal rules’.
‘I am not going to make a commitment as to the precise date,’ he told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme.
Yesterday Defence Secretary John Healey rowed back on a statement that the increase ‘will’ happen, stressing that it is an ‘ambition’. The Treasury appears to be panicking over how to balance the books as the economy stalls.
External authors of the report – expected to be accepted in full by Sir Keir – have suggested that reaching 3 per cent is ‘vital’ to its success.
Key elements of the proposals include:
- Up to 12 new nuclear-powered attack submarines will be built;
- A £1.5billion push to set up at least six munitions factories, supporting the procurement of up to 7,000 UK-built long-range weapons
- British fighter jets could soon carry nuclear weapons for the first time;
- Increasing the number of people in the armed forces, but not until the next Parliament;
- More than £1.5billion in extra funding will go to military homes in response to the review.
Keir Starmer is facing demands for a cast-iron commitment to spend 3 per cent of GDP on defence today as he unveils a push to get Britain ‘war-ready’
The Ministry of Defence has already announced plans to build up to 12 new nuclear-powered attack submarines (pictured, HMS Astute in service in April)
Yesterday Defence Secretary John Healey rowed back on a statement that the increase ‘will’ happen, stressing that it is an ‘ambition’
Writing in The Telegraph, Labour former minister Lord Robertson, Russian expert Fiona Hill and General Sir Richard Barrons said the ‘Government’s important decision to raise Defence spending to 2.5 per cent of GDP by 2027-28 and, vitally, to 3 per cent in the next Parliament made an enormous difference’.
They added: ‘The decision established the affordability of our recommendations across a 10-year programme.’
Sir Keir will launch the Government’s Strategic Defence Review in Scotland, following many months of work and lobbying by military chiefs.
But a Nato summit later this month is expected to push for members to hit 3.5 per cent by 2032, while US President Donald Trump has already called for a jump to 5 per cent within the alliance.
Mr Healey told the BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg show: ‘We have a historic commitment to increasing defence spending to 2.5 per cent in two years’ time. We haven’t hit that level since Labour was last in power in 2010. And an ambition to meet 3 per cent in the next Parliament.’
Challenged that it was an ‘just an ambition’ rather than a ‘guarantee’, Mr Healey talked about being able to ‘deliver the vision’ of today’s review.
Defence minister Luke Pollard again refused to confirm the commitment this morning, telling Times Radio: ‘Well, we’ve set out that we are spending 2.5 per cent by April 2027, with the ambition to spend 3 per cent in the next parliament, when economic conditions allow.’
He added: ‘Well I’ve got no doubt that we will get to 3 per cent in the next parliament, as I’ve said a number of times.’
Mr Pollard said the strategic defence review was the ‘biggest transformation of our armed forces in 100 years’.
He said: ‘It seeks to learn the lessons from the war in Ukraine, refresh our capabilities, invest in our people, and underscore that increased defence spending up to 2.5 per cent of our GDP by April 2027 is an engine for growth.’
The Ministry of Defence has already announced plans to build up to 12 new nuclear-powered attack submarines to boost the Royal Navy’s commitment to the Aukus Pacific defence partnership with Australia and the United States, while investing £15billion in warheads.
But the first of these UK-built submarines is not expected to enter service before the late 2030s.
It will also be for future Parliaments to honour the spending commitment.
The Conservatives have seized on on Labour’s muddle on defence, accusing Mr Healey of weakening UK security.
Tory defence spokesman James Cartlidge told the Mail: ‘These promises on submarines are a fantasy fleet without real money to back them up.
‘The fact is, John Healey has been forced into a humiliating climb down by the Treasury after confirming, as recently as Thursday, that defence spending would definitely rise to 3 per cent.
‘But by Sunday he was backtracking completely. John Healey has been badly let down by the Chancellor – so now he knows how the rest of us feel.’
