John Healey has come under fire over his “shameful” decision to slash £2billion from the Ministry of Defence’s budget amid growing threats facing Britain.
After delivering his first Budget, it was revealed the Chancellor will hand the Ministry of Defence (MoD) £72.8billion in 2027/28 and £75.5billion in 2028/29.
His predecessor, Rachel Reeves, set the MoD’s budget as £73.8billion in 2027/28 and £76.5billion in 2028/29 in Labour’s defence investment plan.
Mr Healey insisted the Government will aim to spend three per cent of economic output on defence by 2030, but said a plan to meet the target will not be put forward until next year’s spending review.
He told the House of Commons yesterday: “This year, our defence budget is £14billion higher than it was in the Conservatives’ last year of Government.
“At the spending review next year, I confirm that I will set out the details of how we will meet our Nato commitment to spend 3.5 per cent of GDP on defence by 2035, with a target date for three per cent in 2030.
Tory leader Kemi Badenoch slammed the Chancellor’s proposals as a “plan to have a plan”, as her party branded changes to the MoD budget a £2billion “cut”.
On Saturday, Shadow Chancellor Andrew Griffith urged Mr Healey to stop “dithering” and have a fully funded plan to boost defence spending to three pre cent or GDP or resign.
Liberal Democrat defence spokesman James MacCleary described the move as “shameful” and warned it will “leave our troops worse off and undermine our security”.
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