Starmer Rejects Labour Leadership Challenge and Defence Spending Demands as £13.5 Billion Plan Draws Fire
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · Jun 17
Starmer Rejects Labour Leadership Challenge and Defence Spending Demands as £13.5 Billion Plan Draws Fire
3 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Jun 17
Summary
Three senior defence figures — John Healey, Al Carns and armed forces chief Rich Knighton — accused Keir Starmer in parliament of leaving British troops underfunded under a £13.5 billion four-year investment plan.
Knighton warned the military would have to "dial back" exercises and operations in Europe, Ukraine and the Middle East unless funding rises beyond current plans.
Starmer, speaking from the G7 summit, refused calls for a leadership contest and defended last year's increase in defence spending to 2.6% of GDP from 2.3%.
Healey said the plan offers only a 0.08% rise through 2030, with no date for reaching 3% and no path to 3.5% by 2030, sharpening Labour unease over Starmer's direction.
Dan Jarvis has been given two weeks to review the defence investment plan before its expected release ahead of the NATO summit in early July, leaving the row politically live.