Starmer Faces Questions on Defence Funding Plan Delay
Sir Keir Starmer has not specified when the government's military funding plan will be released, amid increasing controversy over UK defence expenditure.
The prime minister is under mounting pressure to announce the publication date of the long-delayed blueprint, as discussions with the Treasury continue.
This follows a public criticism from the Labour peer who conducted a defence capability review last year.
Former defence secretary and NATO chief Lord Robertson condemned the government for what he described as "corrosive complacency" in the face of growing global threats.
Ministers have neither confirmed nor denied reports that the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has sought billions in additional funding for equipment procurement, following an internal assessment by department officials last year.
This assessment followed Lord Robertson's June review, which outlined plans for increased ammunition, advanced fast jets, drones, and new attack submarines to enhance Britain's military capabilities.
Negotiations with the Treasury over financing these initiatives have delayed the release of a 10-year defence investment plan, initially expected in autumn of the previous year.
Parliamentary Exchange on Defence Plan
During Prime Minister's Questions, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch urged Sir Keir to publish the plan before the current parliamentary session concludes in the coming weeks.
The prime minister responded that it would be published "as soon as possible" but did not provide a specific timeline.
He rebutted Lord Robertson's criticism, stating he disagreed with the remarks and highlighted that Labour had increased defence funding, including making the "difficult decision" to reduce overseas aid spending last year.
Debate Over Past and Present Defence Spending
Sir Keir also remarked that his party inherited "uncosted and undeliverable" investment plans from the Conservatives, referencing reductions in Navy frigates and minehunters under their administration.
In response, Badenoch accused the prime minister of "prosecuting past governments" instead of providing clarity to defence companies about future plans.
Government's Position and Industry Concerns
In a subsequent parliamentary statement, Defence Minister Luke Pollard asserted that the government was "not waiting" for the investment plan to announce further defence projects but was "working flat out to" publish the document.
However, Labour MP Tan Dhesi, chair of the defence select committee, cautioned that additional delays could cause "further damage to our defence-industrial base."
Budget and Historical Context
The MoD's budget is scheduled to increase by 3.6% in real terms by 2029, based on departmental spending plans established last year.
The investment plan is intended to replace decade-long "equipment plans" that were released annually until 2022, when the then-Conservative government suspended publication to evaluate the impact of "extraordinary inflation" on its projections.
An analysis published by the department in December 2023 indicated that the MoD's most recent equipment plan was projected to exceed its budget by £16.9 billion.
A report by MPs published the following year identified the primary cause of this shortfall as escalating costs associated with maintaining the UK's nuclear weapons system, which has been funded from the MoD budget since 2010, alongside inflationary pressures.
