The Prime Minister's announcement of a 0.2% increase in defense spending, raising it to 2.5% by 2027, has sparked strong criticism from former Defence Secretaries. Ben Wallace branded it a "staggering desertion of leadership," highlighting concerns over national security and U.S. expectations. Grant Shapps urged increased spending to 2.8% by cutting Civil Servant numbers. Critics like Sir Simon Clarke argue that current commitments are insufficient against global threats, demanding a more robust 3% spending. Despite this, Starmer pointed out that by 2029, the UK plans to invest 3% of GDP in defense, framing this as a historic increase since the Cold War.
Wallace stated, "Such a weak commitment to our security and nation puts us all at risk.", criticizing Starmer's defense spending announcement as insufficient.
Starmer emphasized, "The defence and security of the British people must always come first", highlighting the importance of prioritizing national security in his proposals.
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