The SNP has demanded Sir Keir Starmer specify which budgets he will cut to fund a £15 billion increase in defence spending, warning that the Labour leader's "unfunded" plans could divert "vital" resources from schools and hospitals.
Funding Gap Raises Concerns
In one of his final acts as Prime Minister, Sir Keir announced on Monday that military spending would rise by £15 billion, funded by cutting investment budgets for road and energy projects. However, the Treasury has confirmed that only £10.3 billion in savings have been identified, leaving a £4.7 billion shortfall that may force incoming Prime Minister Andy Burnham to find additional cuts.
Dave Doogan, the SNP's Westminster leader, urged the Prime Minister to reveal "where the axe will fall." He stated: "Voters in Scotland have a right to know if the Labour Government is planning to make deep and damaging cuts to our public services and the money available for vital infrastructure projects."
Impact on Public Services
Doogan warned that families would be concerned about the impact on Scotland's schools, hospitals, roads, and frontline services. He added: "The Labour Party must come clean over where the axe will fall if it is planning to take £15 billion from public services across the UK."
The SNP highlighted that the £4.7 billion funding gap remains unaccounted for, potentially leading to "swingeing cuts" in the autumn budget. Doogan noted that Andy Burnham's team claimed he was not briefed on the missing money, describing it as "chaos and dysfunction at the centre of the Labour Government."
Decades of Austerity
Doogan emphasised that these cuts follow years of austerity that have "hammered" Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. He criticised the lack of transparency, stating: "It isn't right that the Scottish Government, and the governments of Wales and Northern Ireland, have been kept in the dark about the scale of the cuts coming down the line from Westminster."
The Ministry of Defence has been approached for comment.
