Defence Secretary faces questions on £4.7bn funding gap left to Andy Burnham
The Treasury has identified two-thirds of the £15 billion defence boost, leaving the rest for the next budget and forcing spending trade-offs.
- Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer announced £15 billion for the Defence Investment Plan on Wednesday, though Chancellor Rachel Reeves revealed that £4.7 billion of the funding remains unconfirmed until Budget 2026.
- Defence Secretary Dan Jarvis succeeded John Healey this month after his resignation over funding disputes and is refocusing the plan to prioritize drone warfare, earmarking £5 billion for the technology.
- To raise the identified £10.3 billion, the Treasury plans to sell state assets and cut lower-priority projects, including possible cancellation of the A38 Derby Junctions and A46 Newark Bypass schemes.
- Reports indicate Andy Burnham, Starmer's anticipated successor, was not briefed on the need to find the £4.7 billion funding gap in his first budget, raising transparency concerns.
- The government committed to raising defence spending to 3% of GDP by the next parliament and 3.5% by 2035, though both targets depend on future economic decisions by a different administration.
37 Articles
37 Articles
Defence black hole: Starmer’s parting gift to Burnham?
Keir Starmer promised to give his successor as prime minister his “full and unequivocal support” but Andy Burnham must be wondering what Starmer’s definition of “full and unequivocal” is, following this week’s defence announcement.Starmer announced a £15 billion increase in spending in his £298 billion Defence Investment Plan (DIP). Of the £15 billion, around two thirds will be raised from “efficiency savings” of quangos, and “cutting capital bu…
Ex-military officer despairs at 'nonsense' defence shortfall amid £5billion black hole: 'We MUST fund defence!'
A former Military Officer has told Sir Keir Starmer that the Government "must fund defence" after a £5billion black hole was revealed in the Defence Investment Plan.Speaking to GB News, James Sunderland despaired at the "nonsense" situation in Government as the Prime Minister scrambles to bolster the UK's defences.Following the publication of the long-awaited Defence Investment Plan, it has been revealed that only £10billion of the pledged £15bi…
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