Burnham promises a Budget roadmap to 3 per cent defence spending by 2030
British Prime Minister Andy Burnham said Wednesday’s Budget would set out how defence spending reaches 3 per cent of national income by 2030 and 3.5 per cent by 2035. Chancellor John Healey had previously put the timetable in next year’s spending review. The announcement follows pressure from military figures and opposition politicians over the pace of funding.
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Wednesday’s Budget will set out the route to NATO targets
British Prime Minister Andy Burnham said Chancellor John Healey’s Budget on Wednesday would set out how defence spending would reach 3 per cent of national income by 2030. In an interview with ITV’s Good Morning Britain television programme, he confirmed that the plan would also cover the commitment to reach 3.5 per cent by 2035 under the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). Burnham said national security was among the government’s highest priorities and that Britain would meet its commitments to the alliance.[1], [2]
Healey had previously said the timetable would be detailed in next year’s spending review rather than the Budget. Earlier this year, he resigned as defence secretary after a disagreement over the pace and extent of military funding. Opposition politicians and military figures have been pressing ministers to set out the route to the end-of-decade target.[1]
The existing investment plan leaves funding to be confirmed
The Defence Investment Plan published on June 30 envisaged 298 billion pounds of Ministry of Defence spending over four years to 2029–30. A House of Commons Library briefing put spending qualifying under NATO’s definition at 2.7 per cent of national income in 2027–28, remaining at that level for the following two years. It gave no date for reaching 3.5 per cent. Of the plan’s additional 15 billion pounds, 10.3 billion pounds had been identified; the government said the remaining 4.7 billion pounds would be confirmed in the Budget.[2]
The Office for Budget Responsibility, Britain’s fiscal forecasting body, estimates that reaching 3 per cent would require an additional 17.3 billion pounds in 2029–30. Its latest economic and fiscal forecasts will accompany the Budget.[2]
Burnham favours employment support over broad welfare cuts
Burnham also said national security should not come at the expense of social security. While reaffirming his commitment to military funding and a smaller benefits bill, he rejected broad welfare cuts. He described support for young people before they enter employment, followed by help to retain a job or training placement. Planned cuts under his predecessor Keir Starmer had prompted a rebellion among government backbenchers. Burnham said he wanted his alternative approach to remain sustainable over the long term.[1]
In September, Helen Miller, director of the Institute for Fiscal Studies, a British economic research institute, warned that raising defence spending to 3 per cent of national income next year would consume all the government’s planned increases for other public services.[2]
