Healey’s budget to duck setting a date for 3% defence spending target

The UK government has postponed plans to outline a timeline for increasing defence spending to 3% of GDP, pushing the decision into next year’s spending review. The delay follows the resignation of the defence secretary, who criticized leadership for failing to commit necessary resources to national security. Tensions between the Treasury and defence priorities remain unresolved amid broader debates over fiscal policy. Full details on the shift and its implications are available in the full report.

Roadmap for increasing department’s share of GDP will be deferred until next year’s reviewThe chancellor will delay setting out when the UK will meet the target of allocating 3% of GDP on defence until next year’s spending review, the Treasury has confirmed.John Healey resigned as defence secretary in June under Keir Starmer’s leadership, accusing the prime minister of being “unable” and the Treasury “unwilling” to “commit the resources that the nation needs to defend the country”. Continue reading...