Defence spend backed amid £28bn gap fears

DOWNING Street has defended the Government’s commitment to defence - after Sir Keir Starmer was warned by the country's top military chief of a £28 billion shortfall in the Ministry of Defence (MoD) budget.

- 

Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Knighton reportedly told the Prime Minister that an MoD assessment last year showed a £28 billion shortfall between now and 2030.

The Prime Minister's official spokesman said the Government has recognised that “demands on defence are rising” and acted accordingly.

The Chancellor and Defence Secretary were also at the meeting with the military chief in the run-up to Christmas, as first reported by The Times and The Sun newspapers.

News of the MoD black hole is thought to have prompted Sir Keir to order an overhaul of the defence investment plan (Dip), which has been delayed after first being expected in the autumn.