Wes Streeting threatens resignation over defence spending shortfall
Wes Streeting has vowed to resign as defence secretary if Andy Burnham does not allocate sufficient funds to address a £4.7 billion gap in Britain’s military budget, reports BritPanorama.
The defence investment plan (DIP), released last month, committed £15 billion to a spending uplift. However, it was revealed under the previous government that nearly £5 billion of this commitment was unfunded.
Streeting, the newly appointed defence secretary, has assured that the DIP will be “fully funded,” noting that Chancellor John Healey will unveil plans to this effect in upcoming fiscal announcements.
In a statement to Times Radio, Streeting emphasized the importance of fulfilling these financial commitments: “It is. It is absolutely for me a matter of principle,” he said, indicating that failure to deliver would trigger his resignation.
Before accepting the role, he sought assurances about defence spending, stating, “If I did not believe this prime minister and this chancellor were committed to investing what we need in defence, I wouldn’t have accepted this role.”
Healey previously resigned from his position as defence secretary, citing the prime minister’s reluctance to commit necessary resources for national security. He has consistently urged for the government’s defence expenditure to reach a target of 3 percent of GDP.
The recent comments from Streeting emerge just days after Burnham did not endorse Healey’s call for defence spending to escalate to 3 percent of GDP by 2030, leaving uncertainty regarding funding for the military.
When questioned about the prior demands, the prime minister’s official spokesperson reiterated, “As the prime minister said, we will honour our commitments on defence to our international partners, and we’ll set out more on defence in due course.”
Healey has also suggested exploring “defence bonds,” aimed at borrowing specifically for military expenditures to strengthen financial resources, although Burnham’s government reportedly does not consider this a viable option.
Nonetheless, Streeting expressed confidence in the support for defence from Healey, referring to him as a “firm friend” of the Ministry of Defence.
In his first press conference alongside leaders from Japan, Italy, and Canada, he emphasized Britain’s commitment to adhering to international obligations, including a pledge to spend 3.5 percent of GDP on defence by 2035.
“My focus is on maximising our deterrence and ensuring that, should deterrence fail, we’re ready to fight and win alongside allies,” Streeting articulated. “That means reindustrialisation and building back up our production capacity so we can give our armed forces the kit they need, as well as building and buying British to deliver good jobs in every part of our country.”
As UK defence spending remains a contentious issue, pressures mount on the new leadership to ensure adequate funding in a rapidly evolving global context.
