Chancellor John Healey has refused to commit to spending 3% of GDP on defence by 2030, prompting the Conservatives to warn of another broken promise by Labour.
Speaking to the BBC's Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, Mr Healey declined to set out a firm commitment on achieving the increase, instead saying the Government would look to hit a target date in 2030.
Fears over 3% target
His comments have sparked fears the rise to 3% of national income will not be reached this decade amid soaring tensions. Three former British Army chiefs accused Labour of lacking urgency on defence after the Budget on Wednesday failed to lay out a pathway on how military spending will be hiked.
Further details, including how it will be funded, will not be set out until next year's spending review, Mr Healey confirmed in the House of Commons.
Speaking to the BBC's Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, the Chancellor offered a commitment to the new NATO target of 3.5% defence spending by 2035, but failed to do so for the 3% goal.
He said: "I still remain absolutely certain we have to meet the rising threats that Britain faces, which is why I've confirmed that at the next Spending Review — that's when we do our longer-term spending plans next year — we'll set out a path not just to meet the country's commitment to meeting Nato's target of 3.5% of spending in 2035, but a target date for 3% in 2030 as well."
Tory criticism
The Conservatives have claimed Mr Healey — who quit as Sir Keir Starmer's defence secretary over failure to hit the target earlier this year — had completely failed to deliver on his own red line.
Shadow Defence Secretary James Cartlidge voiced fears the 3% by 2030 goal could be missed. He told The Telegraph: "[The Chancellor] has a 'commitment' to 3.5% by 2035 but only a 'target' of 3% by 2030.
"Given how often this Government has missed its own 'targets', from housebuilding to spiralling energy bills, this will surely be another broken promise from Labour at a time when the threats are only growing."
Government response
However, a source close to Mr Healey told the newspaper that his target for 2030 is unshakeable. They said the Chancellor's experience in the Ministry of Defence means he knows better than anyone that you don't set a target you don't think you can hit.
In the Budget, Mr Healey confirmed a target date for 3% in 2030 — a phrase he has repeated several times since.
He also declared the much-delayed Defence Investment Plan (DIP) is being fully funded after plugging a £4.7billion black hole, bringing military spending to 2.7% of GDP.
Despite criticism from political opponents, Wes Streeting said the Government is doing as much as we can, as fast as we can. The Defence Secretary last week warned Britain must be ready for war in 1,000 days.
