Tories Accuse Starmer of Being 'All Mouth, No Trousers' on Defence Spending
The government is facing mounting pressure to release its long-overdue defence investment plan, with Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch branding the delay a "national scandal" and accusing Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer of failing to deliver on defence promises. Ministers have declined to indicate when the plan will be published, amid reports of a dispute between the Ministry of Defence and the Treasury over funding and priorities.
Growing Calls for Publication Amid Global Tensions
Badenoch has urged for the spending document to be unveiled next week when Parliament reconvenes from recess, warning that its continued absence risks diminishing Britain's standing within Nato. This comes as global tensions remain high following the US-Iran ceasefire agreement, which includes conditions for reopening the strategic Strait of Hormuz shipping route.
Labour MP Tan Dhesi, who chairs the Commons Defence Committee, echoed these concerns, stating that the UK's "inability to deploy a single ship swiftly" after the outbreak of war in the Middle East had left many "embarrassed." He emphasised that the Defence Committee has repeatedly raised concerns about the UK's lack of military mass and capabilities, stressing the urgent need for investment.
Conservative Criticism and Labour Defence
Badenoch criticised Starmer directly, stating he is "all mouth, no trousers when it comes to defence," and pointed out that while the government published a Strategic Defence Review last year explaining the need for increased spending, the accompanying investment plan has failed to materialise nine months later. She argued this failure stems from the government having "no idea how they are going to pay for it."
In response, Defence Secretary John Healey last month denied that the Treasury was holding up the plan's publication and rejected suggestions of requests to scale it back. Defence minister Luke Pollard accused the Conservatives of having "hollowed out" the armed forces during their tenure, leaving servicemen and women exposed. He defended the Labour government's approach, highlighting their commitment to the biggest sustained uplift in defence spending since the Cold War.
Historical Context and Future Pledges
Real-terms defence spending fluctuated significantly under Conservative governments between 2010 and 2024, falling by 22% by 2016/17 before gradually recovering to 2010 levels. The Tories have proposed reinstating the two-child benefit cap to better fund defence, a move criticised by Labour as pushing children into poverty.
Sir Keir's Labour government has pledged to spend 2.5% of GDP on core defence by 2027, with plans to increase this to 3% in the next parliament. Meanwhile, Starmer is currently visiting Saudi Arabia to push for a long-term resolution to the Middle East conflict, following the Iran-US ceasefire agreement that aims to reopen the vital Strait of Hormuz.
The ongoing delay in publishing the defence investment plan continues to fuel political debate, with both parties trading accusations over defence capabilities and funding priorities as Britain navigates complex global security challenges.
