Sir Keir Starmer has announced an additional £1 billion for UK defence, pledging that the long-delayed defence investment plan (DIP) will ensure the nation remains secure for years to come. The plan, originally due last year, was held back due to internal government disputes over funding levels.
Former defence secretary John Healey resigned earlier this month, arguing the financial settlement fell short of what is needed. He claimed the plan moved too slowly, with defence spending rising to just 2.68% of GDP by 2030, despite a commitment to reach 3.5% by 2035. Dan Jarvis has now taken over as defence secretary.
The DIP is set to be published on Tuesday, just weeks before Andy Burnham is expected to become prime minister. Burnham is widely anticipated to overhaul the plan and seek additional funds, amid concerns that even the increased package is insufficient. The push to raise defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027 comes as the UK prepares for a potential peacekeeping role in Ukraine and faces ongoing Middle East tensions.
Military figures have warned that years of underfunding have left Britain unable to defend itself. Former defence secretary George Robertson accused Treasury officials of “vandalism,” while Malcolm Rifkind and Jack Straw called for cuts to welfare or tax increases to fund defence. Real-terms defence spending fell by 22% between 2009/10 and 2016/17, and the armed forces have shrunk by 15–20% since 2016.
The UK spent around 2.3% of GDP on defence last year, about £66 billion. The government faces a reported £28 billion funding gap to implement the Strategic Defence Review, and US pressure to spend 5% of GDP could require an extra £80 billion annually.
