Defence minister Luke Pollard warned that Brits are now living in a “very dangerous world” and that “new threats” are facing the country as our military lingers from a “lack of investment”
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Minister warns UK faces ‘new threats in very dangerous world’
Defence minister Luke Pollard has said the UK faces “new threats” in a “very dangerous world.”
Speaking to BBC Breakfast, he said: “We know that we live in a very dangerous world.” He added there were “new threats” facing the country after stating the government inherited a a military that had a “lack of investment” and “falling” morale. His comments come amid a defence review that he claims will set out new investment, address the “scandal” of military accommodation, as well as setting out plans that make defence an “engine for growth.”
Mr Pollard added he had “no doubt whatsoever” that the UK would hit its 3 per cent defence spending pledge in the next Parliament, expected to be by 2034. When asked on the BBC whether it was a cast-iron pledge, Mr Pollard said the move was “exactly what the prime minister set out” back in February.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said reaching the 3 per cent was an ambition but stopped short of making it an official commitment. Speaking to the BBC, Mr Starmer said the world had entered an era of “greater instability” and threats” and wanted his defence spending review to lay out the challenges facing the country.
“If you want to deter conflict, then the best way to prepare for conflict,” Mr Starmer added. His first commitment is to raise defence spending by 2.5 per cent by 2027/28.
Mr Starmer said the last time defence spending was at those levels, it was under a Labour government.
The Labour government is also set to outline its plans to build up to 12 attack submarines as well as spending an estimated £15 billion more on the country’s nuclear weapons programme.
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