Williamson battles May over defence cuts
AS MANY as 20 Tory MPS are prepared to back Gavin Williamson and vote down the next Budget in a row over defence funding, it has been claimed, amid fears that Theresa May is turning her back on the Armed Forces.
The Defence Secretary, who has been openly lobbying for more cash in recent months, is believed to have been left reeling after last week’s announcement of a £20billion funding boost for the NHS.
Philip Hammond, the Chancellor, is reported to have told the Cabinet that the 70th birthday present for the health service means that other departments will be forced to tighten their belts, with some facing cuts in key areas.
The issue appeared to escalate on Thursday, when Theresa May refused to commit publicly to Britain remaining a “tier one” military power, raising fears in the Ministry of Defence that Britain’s military status could be in jeopardy.
Yesterday Mr Williamson was reported to have told defence chiefs in a discussion about funding: “I made her – and I can break her”.
According to the Mail on Sunday, Mr Williamson also promised to “crush” the Treasury, while an ally said that a “brewing” rebellion was preparing to block the budget in the autumn unless Mr Hammond was prepared to deliver a significant cash boost for the MOD.
Last night a spokesman for Mr Williamson told The Daily Telegraph he did “not recognise the comments” and the suggestion he had undermined the Prime Minister’s authority was “absurd”. Mr Williamson, the former Chief Whip, is considered one of Mrs May’s closest allies, having helped her secure the votes to become prime minister and survival after last year’s disastrous general election.
An ally of Mr Williamson told The Daily Telegraph: “Gavin has always been and remains totally loyal to the Prime Minister… There is strong feeling among Tory MPS that defence spending has to rise to counter the threats we face and protect our prosperity, and Gavin is fighting hard for our troops to achieve that.”
However, a number of Tory MPS loyal to Mrs May last night accused Mr Williamson of overstepping the mark, with one describing the threat to block the Budget as “b-------”.
Meanwhile, Johnny Mercer, a former soldier and member of the defence committee, told this newspaper: “I’m frustrated about the over-politicisation of this issue. I’m not interested in Gavin Williamson’s role in all of this.
“I’ve been campaigning on this issue for a long time now, and the backbench Conservative Party believes that we should be the party of defence. It’s in the national interest to get defence right, but it’s not in the national interest, in any way, to challenge the Prime Minister.”