Chancellor John Healey is facing intense criticism after reports emerged that he plans to cut £2bn from front-line army equipment in his upcoming budget, despite having resigned as Defence Secretary earlier this year over a lack of defence funding.
Healey, who will deliver his budget next Wednesday, previously quit his role in June, accusing then-Prime Minister Keir Starmer of being "unable" and the Treasury "unwilling" to commit the resources needed to defend the country amid rising threats. His resignation letter stated: "You have been unable and the Treasury, unwilling, to commit to the resources the nation needs to defend the country at this time of rising threats."
U-turn on defence spending
Critics, including columnist Carole Malone writing for the Daily Express, have accused Healey of abandoning his principles to secure the top job. The proposed cuts come at a time when the UK faces significant security challenges, including cyber-attacks on high street banks, which are targeted 140,000 times a day, and threats to navigation systems and undersea cables.
The government has yet to commit to spending 3% of GDP on defence by 2030, with reports suggesting the figure may be closer to 2.7%. Prime Minister Andy Burnham had previously promised to "honour our commitments on defence," but the upcoming budget is expected to delay any firm commitment until next year.
Military readiness concerns
The latest cuts would affect plans to develop three new battlefield vehicles, including one designed to recover damaged Boxer armoured vehicles. Without it, Britain's armoured vehicles would have no means of recovery in combat situations.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting has faced criticism for saying "The Armed Forces have to live within their means," a remark viewed as patronising given the current state of the military. The total active British Army now stands at just 74,000, small enough to fit inside Wembley Stadium. The Royal Navy has around 35,545 regular personnel and just 13 frigates and destroyers, down from 59 in 1982. The RAF has approximately 35,000 personnel.
Lord George Robertson, co-author of the government's Strategic Defence Review, recently described the UK military as "underprepared, underinsured, and under attack." During March and April, Russian submarines mapped out UK undersea cables, with the government only acknowledging awareness of the activity.
Comparisons with allies
Other nations spend significantly more on defence, with Poland allocating 4.5% of GDP, Lithuania 4%, and Estonia 3.4%. The UK could sustain major combat operations for only eight days before running out of ammunition, according to reports.
The government faces mounting pressure to address these gaps, with critics warning that failure to act could have severe consequences for national security.
