Keir Starmer’s long-delayed Defence Investment Plan is worth almost £300billion over four years, including record spending on drones, missiles, AI and next-generation fighter jets
Keir Starmer’s £15billion defence boost was branded “too little, too late” last night as critics warned Britain may not be ready to face Russia. The PM unveiled a long-delayed Defence Investment Plan worth almost £300billion over four years, including record spending on drones, missiles, AI and next-generation fighter jets.
But former military chiefs and opposition MPs warned it still falls well short of what the armed forces need. The Ministry of Defence is understood to have pushed for £28billion in extra funding, almost double the £15billion agreed.
Shadow Defence Secretary James Cartlidge said much of the kit “won’t be in service until the 2030s, when the threat we face is right now”.
Former Defence Secretary John Healey, who quit after clashing with the Treasury, was unimpressed with the plan, warning “European security is at stake”. He said Britain would still only be spending 2.7% of GDP on defence in 2030 – the year NATO fears Russia will be ready to attack.
He demanded a target date for hitting 3% and a “clear, credible funding plan” to reach the NATO commitment of 3.5% on defence by 2035. Labour Defence Committee chairman Tan Dhesi also said it was “disappointing” there was no clear timeline for reaching 3%, warning the plan had “significantly less detail” than previous strategies.
Ex-Armed Forces minister Al Carns, who also quit over the funding row, pressed ministers on what share of the budget would actually go on drones. Defence minister Dan Jarvis declined to give a figure, saying only it was the “largest ever investment in drone warfare”.
The plan will lift annual defence spending from £54billion to almost £80billion by 2029. It includes more than £5billion for drones and autonomous weapons, more than £8billion for air defence and Tempest stealth fighters, almost £2billion for a new digital targeting network and £115million to protect against AI threats.
Ministers also pledged £64billion to renew Britain’s nuclear deterrent and a £50billion export facility to help UK defence firms win overseas deals. But Sir Keir admitted some road and energy projects would have to be axed to help fund the splurge.
He insisted the plan would make the Army “10 times more lethal” and said Britain must “prepare for war to preserve peace”. Rejecting criticism that the package was not enough, the PM said: “There will always be those that say whatever the sum is, frankly, it’s not enough.”
He added he was “100% confident” the plan would give Britain the capability needed to deter future threats. NATO secretary general Mark Rutte called the plan a “good step”, adding: “Stronger UK defence makes us all safer.”