𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

Daily Express readers have voted overwhelmingly in favour of raising defence spending in a clear message to Sir Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves. The pair have continually dragged their feet on calls to raise defence spending, with Labour not pledging to do so in their 2024 election manifesto despite the ongoing war in Europe.

Commitment to raise defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by next year and 3% in the next parliament, have done little to improve the capabilities of the armed forces or the effectiveness of the UK defence industry. This week, it was revealed that military chiefs had been tasked with finding £3.5billion in savings this year as the Chancellor continues to frustrate attempts to finalise the Defence Investment Plan (DIP).

Such is the frustration with the ongoing tension between the Ministry of Defence (MOD) and the Treasury, that former Defence Secretary and NATO Secretary General George Roberston spoke out on the impact of delays to the nation’s security.

Robertson, who co-authored the UK’s Strategic Defence Review, which laid out 62 recommendations for preparing the military for war, said: “We are underprepared. We are underinsured. We are under attack. We are not safe…Britain’s national security and safety is in peril.”

He added: “There is a corrosive complacency today in Britain’s political leadership. Lip service is paid to the risks, the threats, the bright red signals of danger.”

He also criticised what he described as Treasury interference in defence planning, accusing “non-military experts” of “vandalism” when it comes to shaping military priorities.

It seems that Daily Express readers agree with the former defence chief, with a staggering 98.35% of those voting expressing support for an increase in defence spending.

Of the 2,181 people who voted, only 28 believed that defence spending should not increase, with a mere 8 saying they did not know either way.

One voter said: “Yes more on defence, we need to be able to protect our island nation, we used to have the biggest and powerful navy in the world ! stop spending people more money on having more children, extra child (sic) get extra money.”

Another added: “Now is the time to change the public attitude towards everything governments do in the UK. If you want security, we have to invest, and that takes higher taxes even if we cut the benefits budget.”

A Government spokesman said: “We are delivering on the Strategic Defence Review to meet the threats we face.

“It is backed by the largest sustained increase in defence spending since the Cold War, with a total of over £270 billion being invested across this Parliament.

“We are finalising our defence investment plan that we will publish as soon as possible, putting the best kit and technology into the hands of our forces, rebuilding British industry to make defence an engine for growth and doubling down on our own commitment to NATO.”