defence raid in Budget, USA News: John Healey has come under fire over his “shameful” 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, 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 said a plan to meet the target will not be put forward until next year’s spending review.
He told the House of Commons that year: “This year, our defence budget is £14billion higher than it was in the Conservatives’ last year of Government. At the spending review next year, I confirm that I will set out the details of how we will meet our Nato commitment to spend 3.5 per cent of GDP on defence by 2035, with a target date for three per cent in 2030. And today I am getting work under way to get there in a fiscally sustainable way.”
Political Reactions and Opposition Criticism
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 stated that he was increasing risk to personnel on operations and making the country less safe. Shadow Defence Secretary James Cartlidge accused the Chancellor of “penny-pinching our military” and presiding over a “complete dereliction of duty”. Liberal Democrat defence spokesman James MacCleary described the move as “shameful” and warned it will leave troops worse off and undermine national security.
Treasury officials have insisted the £2billion difference to the MoD budget over the next two years is not a “cut”, but a technical adjustment. They confirmed that existing pensions recipients were shielded, and said the change would not adversely impact the department’s spending power.
Backbench Discontent
Tan Dhesi, 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. He warned there is a “cost to inaction” and that investment in national defence and security cannot be kicked into the long grass.
