The government has been accused of “spin and tinkering” over its recent defence spending announcement, with critics arguing the funding increase falls far short of what is needed to address growing global threats. The criticism comes as the Royal Air Force retired its entire fleet of Puma helicopters this week a cost-saving measure that leaves a capability gap until replacements arrive.
Former Defence Secretary Sir Ben Wallace slammed the move, calling it inadequate at a time when European nations must bolster their military readiness. “We are at the dawn of a new era of insecurity across the world,” Wallace said. “The US has warned us for a decade about not taking them for granted, and we all did nothing. In Germany, Poland, and France, the penny has dropped they’ve reprioritized spending. In the UK, the government still thinks it’s about spin and tinkering. It fools no one.”
Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced an additional £2.2 billion for defence in the upcoming financial year, framing it as part of the government’s pledge to increase military spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027. Currently, defence expenditure sits at around 2.3% of gross national income, with the new funding expected to raise it marginally to 2.36%. Ministers have touted the plan as “the biggest sustained increase in defence spending since the end of the Cold War,” but defence insiders dismiss the claim as exaggerated, given years of budget cuts and underinvestment.
Military and industry sources say the extra funding is insufficient to address long-standing issues. “This is just another sticking plaster,” one defence industry insider said. “We celebrate procuring outdated solutions while manufacturers delay projects and overspend without consequences. Meanwhile, our armed forces are being hollowed out.”
A military source described the £2.2 billion boost as merely keeping defence on “life support,” with meaningful improvements only possible if the 2.5% GDP target is met in 2027.
The controversy highlights tensions over national security priorities amid rising global instability. As debates over defence spending continue, critics warn that without substantial investment, the UK risks losing credibility with its allies.
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