GUNNING FOR A JOBS BOOST

Raising defence spending will create work, says Chancellor

- BY MIKEY SMITH Deputy Political Editor

BOOSTING defence spending will not just keep Britain safe, it will create more jobs, Rachel Reeves will say in this week's Spring Statement.

The Chancellor will also hit back at critics who accuse her of ushering in a new age of austerity.

And ahead of her crunch speech on Wednesday, she told us: "I'm proud it was a Labour government that pledged to increase defence spending to 2.5% in 2027.