Sir Keir Starmer is facing a furious backlash over a £1billion boost for Britain’s Armed Forces after critics warned the extra cash is nowhere near enough to repair years of military underfunding.
The Prime Minister is preparing to commit the additional money over the next four years as part of the long-delayed Defence Investment Plan (DIP), with new Defence Secretary Dan Jarvis securing a revised package after tense negotiations with the Treasury.
But the figure remains dramatically below the £28billion military chiefs said was needed to close the Armed Forces’ spending gap and rebuild Britain’s fighting capability.
The bitter funding row contributed to the resignation of former Defence Secretary John Healey, who warned the previous offer of £13.5billion fell “well short” of what was required at a dangerous moment for national security.
The new package has been hailed by Mr Jarvis as progress, with the Defence Secretary insisting the Government understands the need to strengthen Britain’s military.
“We’re spending more on defence than we have for more than a generation,” he said.
But yes, I accept the basic point that we need to spend more.
The delayed Defence Investment Plan is expected to finally be published before the NATO summit in Ankara on July 7, after repeated delays sparked anger from defence officials, politicians and industry leaders.
However, allies of Labour leadership contender Andy Burnham have demanded a further delay, arguing that a future Prime Minister should have influence over a defence strategy that could shape Britain’s security for years.
The row has raised fresh questions over Labour’s approach to defence spending as threats from Russia and other global rivals continue to grow.
The extra funding is expected to support military modernisation, including autonomous technology and uncrewed ground vehicles designed to prepare Britain’s forces for future warfare.
But defence insiders warned that the money may fail to solve deeper problems within the Armed Forces.
One source said: “Extra money is all well and good but we still need to understand how it will be apportioned.
They warned that the plan risks failing to properly fund existing military commitments, let alone provide the new capabilities Britain needs.
The Conservatives launched a fierce attack on the announcement, accusing Labour of failing to meet the scale of the defence challenge.
Shadow Armed Forces Minister Mark Francois said the extra £1billion would “not touch the sides” compared with the £28billion requested by service chiefs.
The Treasury wins and the MoD loses,” he said.
The political battle comes as Britain faces mounting pressure from NATO allies to strengthen its armed forces, with the war in Ukraine highlighting the need for greater military readiness.
Critics warn that after months of delay, Britain’s defence rebuild cannot rely on small increases — and say the country needs a far bigger commitment to prepare for an increasingly dangerous world.
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