The UK government is facing renewed pressure to increase military funding as debates intensify over how to meet its defense spending targets. Former defense secretaries have called for cuts to welfare, arguing that current priorities leave the country exposed.
The discussion comes as Prime Minister Keir Starmer has yet to outline how the UK will reach its pledge of spending 3 percent of GDP on defense. With limited fiscal options, ministers are being pushed to make difficult choices across major public budgets.
Calls to Reprioritize Spending Toward Defense
Two former defense secretaries, Sir Grant Shapps and Dame Penny Mordaunt, have urged the government to reduce welfare spending in order to strengthen the military. According to The Telegraph, they argue that current spending priorities place welfare ahead of national security, which they describe as a strategic mistake.
Shapps said ministers are allowing welfare costs to rise while failing to invest adequately in defense. He criticized recent policy decisions, including changes that increase welfare spending, saying they undermine the government’s ability to respond to external threats.
Mordaunt pointed to public opinion, noting that recent polling suggests defense spending is a higher priority for some voters than other areas, including healthcare. She also highlighted regulatory barriers affecting defense manufacturing, suggesting reforms could help reduce costs and improve efficiency in the sector.
The government has committed to raising defense spending to 3 percent of GDP by 2029–30, which would require an additional £17.6 billion. According to the same report, the Treasury has indicated that such an increase would likely involve either higher taxes or reductions in other areas of public spending.
Political Divisions Over Where Cuts Should Fall
The question of how to fund increased defense spending has exposed divisions within government. Health Secretary Wes Streeting has ruled out cuts to the National Health Service, stating that his department remains a top priority. According to BBC remarks cited in the report, he acknowledged that other ministers would need to make “choices and trade-offs.”
Some figures, including former First Sea Lord Lord West, have suggested that both welfare and health budgets should be examined. He argued that additional defense funding must come from a combination of measures, including spending cuts, tax increases, or borrowing. He also questioned whether all current NHS spending is necessary.
At the same time, the government faces political constraints. Efforts to reduce welfare spending have already met resistance, with previous plans scaled back after opposition from within the ruling party. According to The Telegraph, this raises doubts about whether further cuts could pass through Parliament.
Officials close to the Department for Work and Pensions have said reforms are already underway. These include efforts to reduce fraud and error, adjust benefit structures, and expand employment support. The government has also committed £3.5 billion to help more people return to work.
Prime Minister Starmer has reiterated his commitment to strengthening defense and international alliances. Still, the absence of a detailed funding plan continues to draw criticism, as pressure grows to align financial policy with security objectives.
