Chancellor John Healey is facing accusations of endangering national security after reversing his stance on increasing defense spending. The shift comes just months after Healey resigned as Defense Secretary over disagreements with the Treasury regarding military funding.
Two former defense secretaries, Sir Gavin Williamson and Dame Penny Mordaunt, have condemned Healey's decision. Williamson suggested Healey's earlier resignation, which he framed as a matter of principle, may have been driven by personal career ambition rather than a genuine concern for national security. "The Chancellor knows the threats that the UK faces yet is choosing to ignore them and not give our own forces the resources they need to defend us, making our country more vulnerable," Williamson stated, according to The Mail on Sunday. He added, "It increasingly looks as though his resignation – which he said was an act of principle – was more about getting the Chancellor's job at the expense of our nation's security."
Mordaunt highlighted the potential consequences of underfunding conventional forces, warning that a conflict could arise in the coming years if necessary spending choices are not made. "The choice for Labour is do you want to spend 5 per cent GDP to secure peace, or 50 per cent GDP on war," she commented.
General Richard Dannatt, former Chief of General Staff, who had previously expressed respect for Healey's resignation, also voiced disappointment. "If he is really going to row back on 3 per cent by 2029 (the next election) then he will have abandoned the moral high ground he claimed in his resignation letter and shown himself to be just another politician who goes with the prevailing wind and places self above country," Dannatt told The Mail on Sunday.
A senior Labour MP, speaking anonymously, questioned the change in Healey's position. "Clearly, as Defence Secretary, he didn't believe we could meet the challenges we face on current defence spending. What's changed? Politics is about choices and priorities, and defence should always sit at the top."
When Healey resigned as Defense Secretary in June, he argued that the Treasury was "unwilling" to commit necessary resources and stated, "I am certain that a headmark date for 3 per cent of GDP on defence in 2030 is what Britain must set."
It is anticipated that the upcoming Budget will address a significant financial shortfall in the Defence Investment Plan, estimated to be nearly £5 billion. However, this is expected to fall short of the £10 billion required to reach 3% of GDP for defense spending, a target previously advocated by Labour. Meeting NATO's target of 3.5% of GDP would necessitate an additional £25 billion.
In response, a government spokesperson stated on Friday, "At the spending review we will set out a pathway to meet our Nato commitment of 3.5 per cent of GDP on defence by 2035 and will set a target date to hit 3 per cent on that path."