Ministers are debating whether to increase UK defense spending in the upcoming budget, with Liz Truss and Boris Johnson considering joining the debate.
Defense Secretary Ben Wallace has openly clashed with colleagues over his claims that the British military has been “devastated” and Rishi Sunak wants him to tone down his rhetoric.
Mr Wallace is pushing for an £11bn budget increase on 15 March and warns that the impact of inflation has reduced the military’s capabilities.
Chancellor Jeremy Hunt is open to a military budget increase but wants to wait until an updated “comprehensive review” of the government’s foreign, defense and security policy is completed next month.
The last two prime ministers are considering issuing their own calls for more spending on the military. Mr Johnson has pledged that the UK defense budget target will increase to 3% of GDP by 2030 while he is in office, up from the current level of 2%.
In an article for Wall Street Journal this week he wrote: “We must accelerate Western support for Ukrainians and give them what they need to do their job.”
Mr Wallace publicly quarreled with Secretary of State for Veterans Affairs Johnny Mercer over defense spending. Mr. Mercer said the claim of funding cuts was “obviously untrue” and the Secretary of Defense responded, “Johnny is the junior secretary and luckily Johnny doesn’t have to manage the budget.”
Defense Department officials were seen at Mr Hunt’s office at 11 Downing Street for further talks on Wednesday.
So said a senior Conservative MP. I that the defense budget is “still up for debate”, with the debate between Mr Wallace and the chancellor centering on whether the extra money will only cover real cuts due to inflation or whether it will increase the overall budget amid new threats to UK security.
In particular, fears have been expressed in defense circles that existing defense budgets will be severely cut in real terms due to the high capital expenditures of the armed forces, especially in relation to the maintenance of military equipment.
“There were great fears that the military would suffer again. But after such a noise – not least the head of the army – everything is again under the control of the Ministry of Finance,” the deputy said.
However, the source added that there are fears that any additional funding from the Treasury will only support, rather than increase, the ministry’s budget to combat growing hostility from Russia and China. “This is a concern. That it will be a flat line, no increase in costs,” Tory added.