Login
iscover
Incoming Defence Secretary John Healey has committed to spending 2.5 per cent of Britain’s GDP on Defence as he lambasts the Conservatives for leaving the “Armed Forces hollowed out and underfunded for 14 years”.
To continue reading the rest of this article, please log in.
Create free account to get unlimited news articles and more!
Elected to Parliament in 1997, Healey previously worked as a journalist and union activist.
Speaking to members of the Armed Forces and public sector staff at the Ministry of Defence, the incoming Defence Secretary attacked ongoing underfunding of the Armed Forces and called for a strengthening of the UK’s industrial base.
“We know there are serious problems – with our Armed Forces hollowed out and underfunded for 14 years,” he said.
“And this government now is totally committed to 2.5 per cent of Defence spending, to NATO, to the nuclear deterrent and to support for Ukraine.
“This ministry has new leadership. Our mission is to make Britain secure at home and strong abroad, with the guiding principle of one Defence.
“Because it isn’t just those who serve in uniform who defend this country, it’s those of you who serve in the Civil Service, who work on the production line, who staff the research labs, who develop software – and I want to see Defence at the heart both of the future security of this country, and the future success of this country.”
Earlier in the year, Healey told the House of Commons that increasing Britain’s defence budget to 2.5 per cent would “re-establish” Britain’s leadership in Europe, as he attacked the reduction of numbers in the British Army to the lowest levels since Napoleon.
Following his appointment last week, he told staff that his priority will remain ensuring that the Armed Forces and civilian staff will be able to serve the nation.
“And that means an Armed Forces well-equipped and ready to fight, a skilled, scalable industrial base, a stronger relationship with allies, a more influential MOD, a public that understands and better supports, those who are willing to serve – those whose service is the ultimate form of public service.”
