Latest news with #UKspending
BBC News
13 hours ago
- Business
- BBC News
UK to build up to 12 attack submarines and spend billions more on nuclear weapons system
Update: Date: 07:51 BST Title: We're not at war, says defence minister. But we're not at peace, either Content: Luke Pollard, pictured in Portsmouth in April Defence minister Luke Pollard says "we're certainly not at war at the moment, but it's also true that we're certainly not at peace". Speaking to BBC Breakfast, he says "we know that we live in a very dangerous world" and there are "new threats" to the UK. The government inherited a situation where military morale was "falling" and there had been a "lack of investment", he says. The defence review will set out new investment, address the "scandal" of military accommodation, and set out plans to make defence an "engine for growth", he says. Update: Date: 07:47 BST Title: How much does the UK spend on defence - and how is it changing? Content: What the UK spends on defence In 2023/24, the UK spent around 2.3% of GDP on defence, or £53.9bn, according to government figures. As a member of Nato - the North Atlantic military alliance - the UK is committed to spending at least 2% of national income, as measured by GDP, on defence. But there is growing pressure to go further. What's the planned increase? In February, the government announced defence spending would rise to 2.5% of GDP by 2027, with an "ambition" to reach 3% after the next general election. To fund the initial increase, Starmer announced a cut to the UK's aid budget from 0.5% of GDP to 0.3% in 2027. Has the government committed to reaching 3%? Defence Secretary John Healey, in an interview with The Times, said there was "no doubt" the UK would reach defence spending of 3% in the next Parliament, so by 2034. But the government has not formally announced a commitment to reaching 3%. Update: Date: 07:40 BST Title: Defence firm welcomes submarine plans Content: The Ministry of Defence says building up to 12 new attack submarines "will support 30,000 highly skilled jobs into the 2030s as well as 30,000 apprenticeships and 14,000 graduate roles across the next 10 years". And the announcement has been welcomed by defence technology firm, Cohort. "It's certainty a very ambitious plan and very pleasing to see what's been announced," Andy Thomis, Cohort's chief executive, tells BBC Radio 4's Today programme. "I think it recognises the serious security situation and the need for us to respond to it." Thomis, though, says the government may need to commit a greater percentage of spending to defence, in order to meet the plans. "It certainly does look like a challenge within 2.5% of GDP or indeed even 3%, but I think it is what we need to keep the country safe." Update: Date: 07:08 BST Title: Will extra defence spending be enough for Nato - and Trump? Content: Jonathan BealeDefence correspondent Over the past week, the government has been trailing its defence review with a series of announcements: billions of pounds to produce more missiles and drones; new technology; and better housing for troops. The aim - not just to modernise an underfunded armed forces but to make them ready to meet rising threats. The prime minister will today also underline the importance of the defence industry for creating jobs and economic growth. So far the government is committed to increasing defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027. But will it be enough? Nato allies are being urged to increase defence spending to 3.5% of GDP. The US president, Donald Trump wants more. The government says Britain will be the leading European nation in Nato; but other allies are going further and faster. Lithuania's defence minister called 2.5% "old news". She told the BBC 3.5% should be the bare minimum. Update: Date: 07:08 BST Title: We must face down Russia, says defence secretary Content: Defence Secretary John Healey says the UK's new submarines will help "face down Russian aggression". In a statement released last night, Healey says: "Our outstanding submariners patrol 24/7 to keep us and our allies safe, but we know that threats are increasing and we must act decisively to face down Russian aggression. "With new state-of-the-art submarines patrolling international waters and our own nuclear warhead programme on British shores, we are making Britain secure at home and strong abroad, while delivering on our plan for change with 30,000 highly-skilled jobs across the country." Update: Date: 07:08 BST Title: New nuclear-powered submarines expected as Starmer unveils defence plans Content: The UK will build up to 12 new nuclear-powered submarines under plans due to be announced by Keir Starmer today. The government will unveil a major defence review, which will set out the government's long-term plans and is expected to recommend the armed forces move to "warfighting readiness". The new attack submarines are expected to replace the UK's current fleet from the late 2030s onwards, with the government saying production will also create jobs. The submarines will be conventionally-armed but nuclear powered, and developed under a partnership agreement with the US and Australia. The prime minister is also expected to confirm a £15bn investment in the UK's existing nuclear warhead programme. Starmer will speak to BBC Radio 4's Today programme at 08:10 BST - you'll be able to listen live on this page.
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
Government WILL meet its target of hiking defence spending to three per cent of GDP by 2034, Defence Secretary insists
Defence Secretary John Healey has insisted the Government will reach its target of hiking defence spending to three per cent GDP by 2034. It comes after the Government previously set out a goal to reach the target during the next Parliament, after meeting its promise of increasing spending to 2.5 per cent of GDP by April 2027. However the Defence Secretary has promised a 'certain decade of rising defence spending', according to The Times, and said there was 'no doubt' the UK would meet its target. Mr Healey told the newspaper: 'It allows us to plan for the long term. It allows us to deal with the pressures.' The Government is looking at the roles, capabilities and reforms required by UK armed forces as part of its strategic defence review (SDR). It will explore 'deliverable and affordable' solutions 'within the resources available to defence within the trajectory of 2.5 per cent'. Earlier this year, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer announced the targets, where he said 'increasing the resilience' of Britain was 'vital' 'in an ever more dangerous world.' 'In an ever more dangerous world, increasing the resilience of our country so we can protect the British people, resist future shocks and bolster British interests, is vital,' he said The new defence money will be found by reducing UK overseas aid from 0.5 per cent to 0.3 per cent of GNI (gross national income), according to the Government. This move was one , which prompted then-international development minister Anneliese Dodds to resign. 'You have maintained that you want to continue support for Gaza, Sudan and Ukraine; for vaccination; for climate; and for rules-based systems,' she told the Prime Minister. 'Yet it will be impossible to maintain these priorities given the depth of the cut.' NATO heads of government are set to meet in The Hague, in the Netherlands, next month. Addressing the alliance's parliamentary assembly in Dayton, USA this month, NATO secretary-general Mark Rutte said he assumed The Hague would agree 'on a high defence spend target' of 5 per cent. A Ministry of Defence spokesperson said: 'This Government has announced the largest sustained increase to defence spending since the end of the Cold War - 2.5 per cent by 2027 and 3 per cent in the next parliament when fiscal and economic conditions allow, including an extra £5 billion this financial year. 'The SDR will rightly set the vision for how that uplift will be spent, including new capabilities to put us at the leading edge of innovation in Nato, investment in our people and making defence an engine for growth across the UK - making Britain more secure at home and strong abroad.'
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Healey sees defence spend rise to 3% of GDP by 2034
There is "no doubt" that UK defence spending will rise to 3% of GDP by 2034 at the latest, Defence Secretary John Healey has said. A source told the BBC this was Healey's opinion, not a new commitment. His comment comes as the government prepares to unveil its strategic defence review which will outline priorities for the military and security spending in the coming years. Earlier this year the Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, laid out plans to increase defence spending to 2.5% by April 2027, with a "clear ambition" to reach 3% by 2034, economic conditions allowing. But it is understood that the strategic defence review, to be published on Monday, is based on the assumption that the 3% target is the trajectory spending will follow, with the possibility projects could be delivered faster if the target were brought forward. The review will state that the world and the threats the country faces are changing fast. It will recommend the deployment of new "digital" experts alongside troops to protect them from enemy drones and to control the army's own, future, unmanned weapons. Speaking to the Times newspaper, Healey said the UK defence spending target allowed the UK to "plan for the long term... [and] deal with the pressures". As a result of the review, the Ministry of Defence will spend more than £1bn to develop technology to speed up decisions on the battlefield. Nato heads of government are set to meet in The Hague, in the Netherlands, next month, where it is expected that its secretary-general will call on allies to increase defence spending. Earlier this month, while addressing the alliance's parliamentary assembly, Mark Rutte suggested that the 32 member countries agree on a "high defence spend target of, in total, 5%". New money for defence will be found in part by reducing UK overseas aid from 0.5% of gross national income to 0.3%. The cut in aid prompted International Development Minister Anneliese Dodds to resign in February, telling the prime minister in a letter that the move would "remove food and healthcare from desperate people - deeply harming the UK's reputation". The terrifying new weapon changing the war in Ukraine 'It's going to be ugly': Westminster braces for Spending Review
BBC News
3 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Healey sees defence spend rise to 3% of GDP by 2034
There is "no doubt" that UK defence spending will rise to 3% of GDP by 2034 at the latest, Defence Secretary John Healey has said.A source told the BBC this was Healey's opinion, not a new commitment. His comment comes as the government prepares to unveil its strategic defence review which will outline priorities for the military and security spending in the coming this year the Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, laid out plans to increase defence spending to 2.5% by April 2027, with a "clear ambition" to reach 3% by 2034, economic conditions allowing. But it is understood that the strategic defence review, to be published on Monday, is based on the assumption that the 3% target is the trajectory spending will follow, with the possibility projects could be delivered faster if the target were brought review will state that the world and the threats the country faces are changing fast. It will recommend the deployment of new "digital" experts alongside troops to protect them from enemy drones and to control the army's own, future, unmanned to the Times newspaper, Healey said the UK defence spending target allowed the UK to "plan for the long term... [and] deal with the pressures".As a result of the review, the Ministry of Defence will spend more than £1bn to develop technology to speed up decisions on the heads of government are set to meet in The Hague, in the Netherlands, next month, where it is expected that its secretary-general will call on allies to increase defence this month, while addressing the alliance's parliamentary assembly, Mark Rutte suggested that the 32 member countries agree on a "high defence spend target of, in total, 5%".New money for defence will be found in part by reducing UK overseas aid from 0.5% of gross national income to 0.3%.The cut in aid prompted International Development Minister Anneliese Dodds to resign in February, telling the prime minister in a letter that the move would "remove food and healthcare from desperate people - deeply harming the UK's reputation".
The Independent
3 days ago
- Business
- The Independent
UK will spend 3% of GDP on defence by 2034, says defence secretary
Britain spending 3 per cent of GDP on defence by 2034 is a firm commitment, John Healey has promised. The government has previously set out its 'ambition to reach 3 per cent in the next parliament', after meeting its pledge to ratchet up defence spending to 2.5 per cent of GDP by April 2027. But the defence secretary has promised a ' certain decade of rising defence spending', according to The Times, and said there was 'no doubt' the UK would meet its target. Mr Healey told the newspaper: 'It allows us to plan for the long term. It allows us to deal with the pressures.' The government is looking at the roles, capabilities and reforms required by the UK armed forces as part of its strategic defence review. It will explore 'deliverable and affordable' solutions 'within the resources available to defence within the trajectory of 2.5 per cent'. When he announced the targets earlier this year, prime minister Sir Keir Starmer said: 'In an ever more dangerous world, increasing the resilience of our country so we can protect the British people, resist future shocks and bolster British interests, is vital.' The new defence money will be found by reducing UK overseas aid from 0.5 per cent to 0.3 per cent of gross national income, according to the government, a move which prompted then-international development minister Anneliese Dodds to resign. 'You have maintained that you want to continue support for Gaza, Sudan and Ukraine; for vaccination; for climate; and for rules-based systems,' she told Sir Keir. 'Yet it will be impossible to maintain these priorities given the depth of the cut.' Nato heads of government are set to meet in The Hague, in the Netherlands, next month. Addressing the alliance's parliamentary assembly in Dayton, USA this month, Nato secretary-general Mark Rutte said: 'I assume that in The Hague we will agree on a high defence spend target of, in total, 5 per cent.' A Ministry of Defence spokesperson said: 'This government has announced the largest sustained increase to defence spending since the end of the Cold War – 2.5 per cent by 2027 and 3 per cent in the next parliament when fiscal and economic conditions allow, including an extra £5 billion this financial year. 'The strategic defence review will rightly set the vision for how that uplift will be spent, including new capabilities to put us at the leading edge of innovation in Nato, investment in our people and making defence an engine for growth across the UK – making Britain more secure at home and strong abroad.'
