The Conservatives have seized on the Budget to press Mr Healey, the former Defence Secretary, on military spending. He quit his position under Sir Keir Starmer after insisting that defence expenditure needed to reach 3 per cent of GDP by 2030, on the path to meeting NATO’s 3.5 per cent target by 2035 – aims that he felt were not prioritised.
Shadow Defence Secretary James Cartlidge said: “The Chancellor absolutely has to set out his plan for 3 per cent in the Budget – anything less would be a dereliction of duty.”
Shadow Chancellor Andrew Griffith went further, calling on Mr Healey to resign if he fails to outline a credible path to the 3 per cent target, warning that “you cannot have a strong economy without a strong defence.”
Defence Secretary Wes Streeting hit back, blaming the Conservatives for neglecting military investment during their time in government. Mr Streeting did warn in The Telegraph overnight, though, Britain must be ready for war within “1,000 days”.
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