INDEFENSIBLE
Spending on Britain’s defence has slumped since the Tories took power, minister forced to admit
Rishi Sunak is under mounting pressure to boost defence spending ahead of the election this year
UK defence spending has slumped since the Tories took power in 2010, a minister has been forced to admit.
Britain spent 2.47 per cent of its wealth on armed forces 14 years ago.
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But that has fallen to 2.28 per cent — after a low of 2.03 per cent in 2015.
The decline was revealed by Defence minister the Earl of Minto when quizzed by peers.
PM Rishi Sunak has said defence spending will go up to 2.5 per cent — but only when the economy allows.
The UK will spend £51.7billion this year, up from £45.9billion in 2021/22.
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But MPs want it to be raised to three per cent amid mounting threats from the global alliance of China, Russia, Iran and North Korea.
Those pushing for a rapid hike include former Defence Secretary Ben Wallace and ex-Armed Forces minister James Heappey.
Serving Foreign Office minister Anne-Marie Trevelyan, Security minister Tom Tugendhat and military top brass also want an immediate spending rise.
Yesterday, the PM defended the UK’s record, saying we are the second largest defence spender in Nato after the US.
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But Mr Sunak is under mounting pressure to boost defence spending ahead of the election this year.
Today, Chancellor Jeremy Hunt will say the “economy is on the up” as he flies to the International Monetary Fund meeting in Washington DC.
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Yet there are no plans for a significant rise in military spending.
The Sun revealed two weeks ago how Downing Street is instead eyeing a one-off uplift of around half a billion to mark Nato’s 75th anniversary in July.
It comes as questions over our military preparedness were raised last night after RAF jets were pulled away from protecting Nato from Vladimir Putin’s Russia to bolster efforts to defend Israel.
Six RAF Typhoons began air policing missions in the skies above Romania this month but were redeployed.