Wes Streeting denies defence will be done 'on the cheap' thanking businesses for 'persevering' with Dip delays
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He is the third Labour defence secretary since the General Election victory in 2024
New defence secretary Wes Streeting has refused to commit to the UK increasing its defence spending to three per cent of GDP, but insisted he does not want the sector to operate “on the cheap”.
The minister said prime minister Andy Burnham and chancellor John Healey both “understand defence” and its “immediate pressures and priorities”. Pressed on whether he supports the ambition of raising defence spending to three per cent by 2030, Mr Streeting stressed that fiscal policy is “a matter for the chancellor”.
Mr Healey resigned as defence secretary in Sir Keir Starmer’s government last month over concerns about spending on defence. In a speech at Farnborough Airshow on Wednesday (July 22), Mr Streeting hailed the fact that uncrewed autonomous fighter jets being developed for the RAF cost “a fifth of the price” of piloted alternatives.
Speaking to reporters later, Mr Streeting was asked if he is “trying to do defence on the cheap”. He replied: “Absolutely not. I’m trying not to be on the wrong side of the Chancellor on day two in office.
“The chancellor’s position is on the record. My calls for greater defence investment are also on the record. What I will not do, because I think it would not only be limiting to my time in this post, but potentially ending of my time in this post, is to write the Chancellor’s next budget and next spending review for him.”
Much of the funding accusations at the Labour government came to the forefront following the publication of the Defence Investment Plan (Dip). As part of the programme, £15bn was allotted to future projects, instead of a figure closer to £30bn. Originally due to be published in the autumn of last year, it was released this summer after months of wrangling between the Ministry of Defence (MoD) and the Treasury.
Businesses of various sizes struggled to deal with the pushbacks, with some cutting jobs while others ceased operations altogether. “I know that the months leading up to the DIP weren’t easy for many of you in this room and beyond,” Mr Streeting said during his speech.
“I thank you on behalf of the Government for persevering. With a plan now published, I’m relying on all of you to make it a success. My job, as Secretary of State, is to maximise our deterrence, and ensure that should deterrence fail, we have the capability to fight and to win. That means investment.”
Mr Streeting announced an ambition for a prototype of the uncrewed Brontanax aircraft under development to operate a test flight next year. He told the audience that US President Donald Trump has called on Europe to carry a greater share of “the burden for our own defence”, and “he is right to do so”.
The new defence secretary said £11.8bn worth of contracts have been accepted ten days after the Dip was published. He added: “Defence is, and will be, at the forefront of that mission. We will be unapologetic about backing Britain, British ingenuity, British workers, communities in every corner of this great country.
“Defence will not just be a recipient of the proceeds of economic growth. It will be a central contributor to building that growth, a driver of prosperity in parts of the country that are crying out for the backing they need to make their contribution to the challenge of our time.”