Labour's 5% defence spending pledge is 'smoke and mirrors' says ex-soldier MP

A PLEDGE to raise defence spending to 5% by 2035 has been branded “disingenuous” by a Conservative MP and former soldier.

- By Conor Wilson

Lincoln Jopp believes Labour's promise to significantly increase the amount spent on the Armed Forces is merely “smoke and mirrors”.

In June, NATO allies agreed - under pressure from Donald Trump - to commit 5% of GDP to defence spending, with 1.5% earmarked for “defence-related” projects.

But the government has faced criticism for allegedly planning to count existing spending with minimal military relevance toward the target.

Mr Jopp, the member for Spelthorne and one of only two MPs to have earned the Military Cross, said: “It is disingenuous to include things that are not new money and projects that don’t directly contribute to the defence of the nation.”

Tensions

Project Gigabit, the £5billion communications initiative launched four years ago to deliver “lightning-fast” broadband to rural parts of the UK, is reportedly set to be included in the new defence spending target.