Shapps pushing Rishi for fast rise in defence budget
‘We are living in a more dangerous world...you have to pay for that defence’
DEFENCE Secretary Grant Shapps is piling pressure on Rishi Sunak to beef up Britain’s military spending in the Conservative election manifesto.
Mr Shapps wants the Prime Minister to commit to spending 2.5% of gross domestic product – the market value of goods and services we produce – “as quickly as possible”.
Mr Sunak is under intense pressure to boost defence spending in the face of the growing threat posed by nations such as Russia, China and Iran.
Demands to meet the 2.5% defence spending level were ignored by Chancellor Jeremy Hunt in his spring Budget.
Mr Shapps told the House of Commons defence committee: “The Government is committed to 2.5%. It is my view that we are living in a more dangerous world.
“I am in complete agreement that you have to pay for that defence.
“Exact timing, as we’ve said all along, is a matter for the Chancellor and the Government has described it ‘as conditions allow’.
He added: “I am Secretary of State for Defence so obviously I urge for us to move to that position as quickly as possible.
“There will be other opportunities, including an election coming – other parties are only committed to 2%, the Nato base.”
Pressed by MPs on whether he was hinting the 2.5% target would be included in the Tory manifesto ahead of the general election, Mr Shapps said: “I am very committed to making sure we defend ourselves.
“And when you do, I think you make a very good case to your adversaries not to try it on.
“Because I think it’s actually cheaper in the long run to do that as well. I am very pleased we are committed to doing it.
“Of course I urge us to do that as quickly as possible. There’s a general election coming up.”
Outgoing Armed Forces minister James Heappey has also kept up pressure on Mr Sunak over defence spending. Mr Heappey said this week that Britain should “urgently achieve 2.5% of GDP”.
Recruitment and retention in the Armed Forces has long proved a major headache for defence secretaries.
However, Andrew Murrison, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence People and Families, will today laud the success of the UK’s Victim Witness Care Unit – part of reforms to the Service Justice System.
Writing in the Daily Express, Mr Murrison says the unit provides better support within the system to victims and witnesses of serious crime.