𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

But according to the UK Statistics Authority (UKSA) the £270 billion figure was more a total planned spend over the course of this Parliament rather than an additional amount. The UKSA said Sir Keir’s comments to the committee had been “incorrect and misleading”.

Conservative shadow defence secretary James Cartlidge, who complained to the UKSA about the statement by the ex-PM, said “Labour’s lies” had been exposed.

The Telegraph reports the UKSA, which is an independent statutory promoting and safeguarding the production and publication of official statistics, said it had launched an investigation following the complaint from Mr Cartlidge.

In a letter issued on Tuesday, the UKSA’s interim chairman Penny Young confirmed Sir Keir had misled MPs and that the body had also spoken to the Ministry of Defence which had repeated the claims.

She said “Statisticians at the MoD have told us that analysts have spoken about the misleading wording with their communications colleagues, to ensure accurate communications on defence spending are used going forward.”

Mr Cartlidge told the Telegraph: “Labour’s lies on defence spending have been completely exposed. The independent UK Statistics Authority have confirmed that it was ‘incorrect and misleading’ for Labour to claim defence spending was increasing in this way.”

The ministerial code states MPs are required to ensure that any statements to Parliament are accurate, whether they are made in the Commons chamber or to select committees.

An MoD spokesman said: “We have previously acknowledged this phrasing and took immediate steps to ensure it was not replicated.”