Andy Burnham has been warned the future of Britain is at stake as he faces demands to commit to a major increase in defence spending. Kemi Badenoch's call for the Prime Minister to pledge 3% of GDP on defence has been echoed by leading military figures who warn of national disaster unless the armed forces are urgently strengthened.
Political Pressure and Military Warnings
Badenoch criticised Burnham for being “happy to tell us how he makes his tea” but “weirdly evasive” on support for the armed forces. Chancellor John Healey resigned as Defence Secretary from Sir Keir Starmer's government in protest at underfunding, saying he was “certain that a headmark date for 3% of GDP on defence in 2030 is what Britain must set”.
Writing for the Express, the Conservative leader said: “September is approaching and the markets, the military and the public need answers to serious questions. Chiefly, will the Government finally commit to spending 3% of our GDP on defence by 2030 as the Conservatives have done? In an increasingly dangerous world, we need a government prepared to put national security first, make responsible choices about public spending, and ensure our armed forces have the resources they need to keep our country safe.”
Former Commanders Highlight Risks
Lord Dannatt, former head of the UK Army, warned the “country remains at severe risk” and “neither our enemies nor our allies can quite believe that the UK Government remains so complacent over our security”. He said: “Commitment to spending 3% of GDP on defence by 2030 is vital, and a clear programme to achieve this must be published in detail.”
Retired Major General Tim Cross said: “I served for 43 years man and boy in the military, but I cannot recall a time when our defences were in as much trouble as they are today. There have been years of talk but very little action taken to rebuild the fighting power necessary to deter and, if necessary, prevail against the growing threats that all recent prime ministers have recognised. We must have a clear path to raise our defence expenditure to 3% of GDP by 2030. All choices carry consequences, and a failure to do this carries potentially very serious consequences indeed.”
Calls for Action from Politicians
Lincoln Jopp, a former colonel and Conservative member of Westminster's defence committee, said: “If we want peace we have to prepare for war; we have to prepare for the fight we don’t want to have. As a bare minimum that means spending 3% of GDP by the end of this parliament... It is time to get serious. Our enemies are upping their game. We must too.”
Ex-Defence Secretary Dame Penny Mordaunt said: “Spending 3% GDP to deter and prevent a conflict which would cost 50% GDP is prudent. Kemi understands what Britain needs to be resilient – strong defence, a plan to deal with debt, secure and affordable energy and a sensible approach to regulation and risk. Her whole team are working hard to make this a reality. For the nation’s sake, we need them to succeed.”
Former security minister Tom Tugendhat pushed for action, saying: “We've seen in recent weeks direct threats by Putin against our shipping. We have seen a Russian warship practice gunnery off our coast. Why do we think we have time to wait to rearm? Kemi is completely right – we need to increase our preparations and that means spending more, and spending better.”
Ex-Defence Secretary Sir Gavin Williamson warned: “The Government and the Prime Minister‘s dithering on defence spending is not only a threat to our security but it is also putting jobs and growth on the line. We have waited so long for this clarity. The Prime Minister just needs to make the commitment and make the money available to support our brave armed forces.”
Former defence minister Tobias Elwood said that as “Europe re-arms we stand alone as we dither”. He added: “It take years to upgrade platforms, procure stockpiles and train personnel. Every week we delay places Britain in greater danger.”
Alan Mendoza, a security expert who advises Reform, said: “An immediate increase to 3% GDP spending on defence is the absolute bare minimum required for UK national security given global instability and the proliferation of threats from hostile actors. It needs to be used firstly to rebuild our weakened armed forces and then to invest in the new technologies that we have seen change battlefields in recent years as well as AI options for the future. Warfare has been transformed and we are in damaged of being left behind.”
A Government spokesperson said: “This Government is delivering the Defence Investment Plan which is backed by £298billion of investment over the next four years, and the Chancellor has made clear that the Spending Review will set out a clear pathway to spending 3.5% of GDP on defence by 2035.”
