"Don't put words in my mouth": Armed forces head agitated amid grilling on Royal Navy funding shortfall
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The head of the armed forces said the current plans and reforms for the military cannot be completed without extra finances - amid reports of a large funding shortfall.
Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Knighton, Chief of the Defence Staff (CDS), addressed the current state of finances and if major reforms can be delivered to the defence select committee. This comes after reports said assessments made last year show a £28bn military shortfall between now and 2030.
Modernisation efforts for the Royal Navy, Army, and RAF, were set out in the Strategic Defence Review (SDR) in June 2025, but doubts have remained on if they’re affordable in the current climate. Costings for these have been earmarked for publication the Defence Investment Plan (Dip). This report has been delayed since autumn. Sir Richard and other top brass reportedly met with prime minister Sir Keir Starmer, who proceeded to issue an overhaul of the document.
Defence select committee chair, Tanmanjeet Singh Dheshi, asked the CDS if there is a shortfall despite extra money being assigned to defence and the increasing threats the UK faces. “It’s speculation,” Sir Richard said. “We meet the prime minister regularly. He’s been clear that defence and national security should be an organising principle for the government. He’s personally taken a keen interest in those aspects.
“We talked about a number of issues associated with defence, including the Dip. The material discussed at that meeting was classified secret. I’m not going to chat about that in public. I’m not going to be able to talk about those specifics because we’re not at a stage where we understand precisely what the cost of the programme will be. There’s a whole bunch of judgments that will need to be made.”
After being asked by Mr Singh Dhesi if there is a significant funding shortfall, the CDS said the cost of the programme depends on a host of assumptions, which will be made by ministers based on advice from military chiefs. When pushed for a direct answer, he said: “It depends on the assumptions you make. Ministers have made a decision on the level of funding provided to defence.
“This is the largest increase in defence spending that I’ve known. That demonstrates the government’s commitment to the challenges we face. We can’t do everything we want to do, as quickly as we want to do, in the context of the budget we set. That requires ministers to make difficult trade-offs. That’s why we’re working so hard on the Dip.”
Dhesi said committee members and the public are “exasperated” that the Dip has faced major delays, possibly due to finances and lack thereof. He added: “What’s going on? Who’s got a handle on this? There is so much tension in the world, but we’re trundling along despite the urgency of the moment.”
Sir Richard did not give a timeframe on when it will be published. “There is no point having a defence investment plan that can’t be delivered or is unaffordable,” he added “We’re working flat out to bring that to a conclusion.”
After being questioned by Derek Twigg MP on if there’s any scenario that wouldn't involve cuts or delays to programmes based on the current levels of funding, the CDS said: “If we wanted to do everything currently in the programme, and the all the extra things in the SDR, could we do that with the budget we have? The answer is no.”
The Labour MP for Widnes and Halewood responded: “If you’ve got a programme that you can’t deliver, you cut it don’t you?” Sir Richard said: “You have a choice over how quickly to do them. I know you want to put words in my mouth, but it’s important we understand what the situation is.”
Mr Twigg questioned the CDS further and said: “Basically you’re saying we cannot continue the way we are without making cuts to the programme?” Becoming agitated, Sir Richard said: “I didn’t say that Mr Twigg, You keep using that word and keep wanting to put that word in my mouth. I’m conscious of the support this committee provides to defence. I’m going to speak plainly and clearly. Don’t put words in my mouth.”
Sir Richard said the department isn’t allowed to overspend its defence budget of £62bn this year, but they’re forecasting to spend over the amount currently allocated by the end of the year without any changes. “We don’t have enough money to do everything that’s currently planned. That’s a perfectly normal position that has happened over the past few years. The department has been allocated additional funding in supplementary estimates.”