Starmer finds extra £1bn for defence spending plan

Sir Keir Starmer has found an extra £1bn to fund Britain’s defence following John Healey’s resignation over the issue, promising the long-delayed plan for future-proofing the armed forces will keep the UK “safe and secure long into the future”.

- MILLIE COOKE POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT

The Defence Investment Plan (DIP), originally due last year, has been held back amid furious wrangling within government over the amount of money required to finance the military. The DIP will be published today, just weeks before Andy Burnham is expected to take over as prime minister when he is widely expected to rip up the plan and try to find more money for defence, amid concerns that even the increased package does not go far enough.

Mr Burnham has previously said he will increase the country’s defence budget by cutting welfare spending.

Earlier this month, former defence secretary John Healey quit in protest over the DIP, arguing it did not provide enough funding for the UK to transform its armed forces and meet future threats.

He also warned that the plan would probably fall short of Britain’s commitments to the Nato alliance, which has tasked all member states with hiking core defence spending to 3.5 per cent of national economic output by 2035.