Prime Minister Keir Starmer has said Britain “needs to go faster” on defence spending, though sources clarified that this is unlikely to mean reaching 3% of GDP before the next election. Speaking at a press conference in south-west London, Starmer highlighted the enduring threat from Russia, stating, “We need to be alert to that, because that’s going to affect every single person in this room, every single person in this country, so we need to step up.”
His comments came in response to a BBC report suggesting No 10 wanted to increase the defence budget to 3% of GDP by 2029. While Starmer’s remarks were initially interpreted as support for the 3% target, Downing Street sources later clarified that “going faster” could involve alternative methods and that a concrete plan for 3% by 2029 had not been approved by the Treasury. A government source denied a “concrete plan” to reach 3% earlier than planned but did not deny that conversations had taken place.
The row between the Ministry of Defence and the Treasury over financing the defence investment plan has been ongoing for weeks. Key contracts, including a £1bn medium lift helicopter deal that secures 3,000 jobs at the Leonardo Helicopters factory in Yeovil, Somerset, depend on the plan’s agreement. Sharon Graham, general secretary of the Unite trade union, criticised the government’s “dithering,” warning it leaves thousands of UK defence jobs at risk.
Defence spending is forecast at 2.4% of GDP in 2025, with a scheduled rise to 3.5% by 2035 in line with Nato targets. Most increases are planned for the next parliament. The Institute for Fiscal Studies estimated that reaching 3% by 2029-30 would cost an additional £13bn-£14bn, while the Office for Budget Responsibility calculated £17.3bn. At the Munich Security Conference on Saturday, Starmer urged Europe to “stand on our own two feet” on defence, acknowledging shifting US security priorities under the Trump administration.
Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Knighton and his German counterpart, Gen Carsten Breuer, warned against complacency regarding the Russian threat, writing in the Guardian that “Moscow’s military buildup, combined with its willingness to wage war on our continent, represents an increased risk.” Last week, US undersecretary for war Elbridge Colby told Nato defence ministers that Europe must step up combat capabilities and take the lead in protecting the continent from Russia.
