Andy Burnham said he would take responsibility for funding the UK’s defence investment plan “extremely seriously” after documents showed a £4.7bn gap. Ministers face questions over when Burnham learned of the shortfall and how the money will be found.
Posts tagged as “Defence spending”
Keir Starmer says the UK will raise defence spending by £15bn over four years, funded by cuts to other government investment budgets. The plan would lift annual defence spending to nearly £80bn by 2029, though critics say it falls short of what the armed forces need.
Andy Burnham is set to use a major Manchester speech to make devolution the centrepiece of his bid to become Britain’s next prime minister. He is expected to promise a 10-year mission to raise living standards while facing questions over fiscal rules, defence spending and his future cabinet.
John Healey resigned as Britain’s defence secretary, saying Prime Minister Keir Starmer and the Treasury had failed to provide the resources needed for national defence. His departure is the sixth ministerial resignation since Labour’s poor election showing last month.