Defence ‘must get more cash’

PRESSURE mounted on the Chancellor last night to increase the defence budget above Nato’s target of 2 per cent.

Dr Julian Lewis, chairman of the defence select committee, was among a group of 25 MPs who wrote to the new Defence Secretary to urge him to press for more cash from the Treasury.

The senior Tory warned defence had ‘fallen far too down the scale of national priorities’ and the budget must be increased from 2 per cent of national income to 3. His comments came after it emerged Gavin Williamson is yet to ask Philip Hammond for new money for ships, jets, and vehicles.

The former chief whip is currently ‘taking stock’ of the situation. It is understood he could demand more money before a review into national security concludes early next year. In the letter, the backbenchers said they are ‘not prepared to see’ more cuts and called for extra funding for the Ministry of Defence to match the increase in the threat from Islamic State and Russia.