David Reed MP, Shadow Minister for Defence and the Foreign Office, has fully backed the Conservatives’ plan to increase defence spending to 3% of GDP.
The Conservatives plan to raise £10 billion immediately by cutting welfare spending, including housing and child support benefits.
This reflects the urgent situation in Europe. The Government has warned that Russia could attack NATO as soon as 2030. Russia is already waging war against Ukraine and conducting hybrid warfare against our NATO allies, including Germany.[1]
Labour has repeatedly failed to offer a plan to spend 3% of GDP on defence by 2030. The Defence Investment Plan was meant to do so, but failed even to reach 2.7%.
Labour’s current Chancellor previously resigned over the inadequate plans, warning that they could “make the country less safe”. Now in charge of the Treasury, he has failed to set out the clear plan he called for when he resigned.[2]
Meanwhile, Reform UK does not have a defence spokesperson and ranks defence as only its 14th-highest priority.[3] Its only recent contribution of note has been to call for complete immunity for British forces engaged in combat operations, including in cases involving the most heinous and indisputable war crimes.[4]
David Reed said:
“We need to raise defence spending to 3% of GDP now to match the threats we face.
“The Conservative plan to raise £10 billion through welfare cuts makes us the only party with a properly funded plan to increase defence spending. We are standing up for our armed forces while others falter.
“There is no time to lose. Our Armed Forces need the money now so that they can prepare for potential conflicts on the horizon. Labour are simply not doing enough.”
[1] Russian drone attack on Leipzig Airport, Germany, reported by the BBC https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c5ylm3m67n2o
[2] John Healey’s resignation letter, https://x.com/JohnHealey_MP/status/2065028766540145140
[3] Reform UK’s priorities, ranked on their party website https://www.reformparty.uk/policies#policies-section
[4] Zia Yusuf’s announcing reform would grant immunity from prosecution for any member of the armed forces for their actions in combat operations, https://x.com/ZiaYusufUK/status/2095114487330111700