Key facts
- Sir Keir Starmer unveiled a £15 billion Defence Investment Plan over four years.
- The plan falls short of the £28 billion requested by military officials.
- Funding was reallocated from road, energy, and housing projects.
- The plan prioritizes spending on drones and nuclear weapons systems.
- Starmer warned against borrowing to fund future defence needs.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer has unveiled a £15 billion Defence Investment Plan, a figure that falls significantly short of the £28 billion requested by military officials. The plan, announced after an 11-month government dispute, aims to bolster defence capabilities over the next four years.
Starmer stated that the funding was secured by reallocating money from other government projects, including road and energy schemes, and warned his successor against borrowing to finance defence. He emphasized that the plan prioritizes investments in drones and technology, with substantial allocations for a new stealth fighter jet and nuclear weapons systems. The plan is expected to increase defence spending to 2.7% of GDP.
Despite the new investment, military officials have expressed dissatisfaction, noting the funding gap compared to their requests. Reports suggest that upgrades to military housing may have been scaled back to accommodate the new defence spending. Starmer defended the choices made, stating they were necessary to protect the nation and maintain fiscal control.