Rise in defence spend must wait for full security review

DEFENCE spending will not be increased until a wholesale review of Britain’s security has been carried out, Jeremy Hunt said yesterday.

The Chancellor told MPS that spending on defence would stay above the Nato target of 2 per cent of national income.

However, he said nothing about the demand from Ben Wallace, the Defence Secretary, for spending to rise to 3 per cent of national income by 2030.

Mr Hunt said he wanted a major review into Britain’s security, in light of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, to be completed by the next Budget in the spring.

He said: “Our security at home depends on our security overseas. The privilege of being this country’s foreign secretary showed me first-hand the enormous respect in which this country is held because the United Kingdom is, and has always been, a force for good in the world.

“Nothing sums that up more than the courage of our Armed Forces; men and women risk their lives every day in defence of our territory and our belief in freedom.”

The Chancellor pointed out that Britain had given £2.3billion of military support since the start of Vladimir Putin’s invasion – the second highest contribution in the world after the US.

“Our commitment to democracy and open societies remains steadfast,” he said. “In that context, the Prime Minister and I both recognise the need to increase defence spending.

“But before we make that commitment, it is necessary to revise and update the integrated review, written as it was before the Ukraine invasion.

“I have asked for that vital work to be completed ahead of the next Budget and today I confirm that we will continue

‘Our security at home depends on our security overseas. We need to increase defence spending’

to maintain the defence budget at at least 2 per cent of GDP to be consistent with our Nato commitment.”

Mr Wallace has denied that he threatened to resign if the defence budget was not increased to the 3 per cent of national income promised by Liz Truss.

Speaking to MPS this month, Mr Wallace said he would be “fighting for as much money as I can get”. But he admitted pledges to spend 3 per cent were only an “aspiration”.