defence raid, USA News (London): John Healey has come under fire over his decision to slash £2billion from the Ministry of Defence’s budget amid growing threats facing Britain. After delivering his first Budget, it was revealed the Chancellor will hand the Ministry of Defence (MoD) £72.8billion in 2027/28 and £75.5billion in 2028/29. His predecessor, Rachel Reeves, previously set the MoD’s budget as £73.8billion in 2027/28 and £76.5billion in 2028/29 in Labour’s defence investment plan.
Mr Healey insisted the Government will aim to spend three per cent of economic output on defence by 2030, but stated a plan to meet the target will not be put forward until next year’s spending review. Addressing the House of Commons, he said that this year’s defence budget is £14billion higher than it was in the Conservatives’ last year of government. He confirmed that at the spending review next year, he will set out details on meeting the NATO commitment to spend 3.5 per cent of GDP on defence by 2035, alongside a target date for three per cent in 2030.
Political Backlash and Opposition Reactions
Tory leader Kemi Badenoch slammed the Chancellor’s proposals as a “plan to have a plan,” as her party branded changes to the MoD budget a £2billion cut. She argued that the policy increases risks to personnel on operations and makes the country less safe. Shadow Defence Secretary James Cartlidge accused the Chancellor of penny-pinching the military and presiding over a complete dereliction of duty. Liberal Democrat defence spokesman James MacCleary similarly described the move as shameful and warned it would leave troops worse off.
Treasury officials have insisted the £2billion difference to the MoD budget over the next two years is not a cut, but a technical adjustment. Officials confirmed that existing pensions recipients were shielded and asserted the change would not adversely impact the department’s spending power.
Labour Backbench Criticism
Tan Dhesi, the Labour chairman of the Commons Defence Select Committee, expressed disappointment over the Chancellor’s failure to set out a precise pathway to increasing defence spending to three per cent of GDP. Warning that there is a cost to inaction, Mr Dhesi argued that investment in national defence cannot be kicked into the long grass because adversaries are not bound by fiscal years and spending cycles.
