Wallace talks tough on defence

DEFENCE Secretary Ben Wallace has not ruled out resigning if military funding is cut or frozen.

The defence budget is expected to rise from £47.9billion this year to £48billion in 2023 and £48. billion in 2024 but inflation rises means there will be a real-terms spending cut.

Last week Mr Wallace said he was ‘determined’ to ‘fight every bit of the way’ to ensure defence spending reaches 3 per cent of GDP by 2028. Asked yesterday if he would resign if the Autumn Statement fails to deliver, he said: ‘I’ve had good discussions with the Treasury... let’s see what is served up.’ But he also defended Jeremy Hunt, suggesting he had a ‘very difficult job’.

However, former Cabinet minister Simon Clarke tweeted: ‘The one area where I truly believe we would be making a false saving by instigating cuts would be defence.’