Wes Streeting, the new Defence Secretary, refused to answer a direct question on Sky News about whether he supports a target of 3% of GDP on defence by 2030. In his first broadcast interview since taking the role, he was questioned by presenter Sophy Ridge.
Question on predecessor's demand
Ridge asked Streeting about his predecessor, John Healey, who had demanded that Britain reach 3% of GDP on defence by 2030. She pressed: “John Healey said he was certain that Britain should reach 3% of spending of GDP on defence by 2030. 3% on GDP by 2030, is that a target?”
Streeting responded: “I endorsed John Healey's resignation letter wholeheartedly, at the time. What you will see from Andy Burnham and John Healey as Prime Minister and Chancellor is a commitment to make sure defence investment planning is fully funded.” He added, “That commitment is there,” but did not answer the question directly.
Repeated attempts for a clear answer
As Streeting continued to avoid the question, Ridge interjected: “Wes, I'm going to have to come in again.” She repeated: “You are the Defence Secretary, do you believe in the target of spending 3% of GDP on defence by 2030?”
Streeting again skirted the issue, saying: “As I said, I agreed with what John Healey said when he resigned from the Government... In meeting the commitment to fully fund the defence investment plan which the Prime minister has been clear about, we will set out in the usual way what we will fund and how we will fund it.”
Streeting's reasoning
Ridge pushed back: “I'm not asking you to set out how you're going to fund it. I'm asking, do you believe in the target of defence spending 3% by 2030?”
Streeting replied: “Let's say for argument's sake, I say 'yes, we will by 2030 meet 3%', the inevitable next question is 'how will you fund it?' The trap that I've seen so many previous Conservative governments fall into is setting out what they would spend without saying how they would pay for it. I'm sorry, but that path leads to uncertainty, a loss of market confidence, and a rise in borrowing costs.”
Healey's previous demand and Burnham's stance
John Healey had previously demanded: “Britain must set the headmark of spending 3% on defence in 2030 and a clear path to 3.5% in 2035 – the commitment all Nato nations have made to each other and to their people. I believe that this would command wide cross-party support.”
Although former Prime Minister Starmer had pledged 3.5% by 2035 and aimed for 3% in the next Parliament, the recently appointed Prime Minister, Andy Burnham, has refused to commit to increasing defence spending to 3% of GDP by 2030. Burnham said: “When it comes to defence, obviously those commitments… relate to the Parliament after this one. In terms of our Nato commitments, I have been very clear that we will honour those commitments. It does mean being prepared to look at challenging issues.”
