Tory MP Mark Francois has blasted the Government for being “deeply dishonourable” after it emerged Jeremy Hunt plans on cutting billions from the defence budget next year.
Speaking in the Commons, the Brexiteer Spartan tore into the Government’s spending plans amid rising global tensions.
He fumed: “As a former Armed Forces minister I pay high tribute to HM Armed Forces, but not to HM Treasury.
“The Red Book – the Budget bible – shows very clearly… that the core defence budget next year has been cut by £2.5 billion. That is true.
“It ill behoves any government, let alone one that purports to call itself Conservative, to then try and use one-off payments to Ukraine or for overspends in the nuclear budget and pretend they’re part of the defence budget when everyone in this house knows they’re not.”
He blasted: “As the son of a D-Day veteran, more in anger than in sorrow, what the Government have done is deeply dishonourable and they should be ashamed of themselves!”
A stunned Defence Minister defended the Government’s spending plans, arguing that expenditure on the nuclear deterrent or supplies for Ukraine, are “legitimately described as defence expenditure”.
James Cartlidge argued: “After all how else are we meant to pay for them? From which budget are we supposed to be paying for them?
“On that basis and comparative with last year it is an increase of 1.8% in real terms which will amount to £55.6 billion if we spend what we expect to.”
Following the Budget, the Defence Select Committee – on which Mr Francois serves – demanded an urgent meeting with Grant Shapps.
Despite Mr Shapps hyping up the threat of war, the MoD will receive £0.3 billion less for capital, and £2.2 billion less for resource funding, in 2024/5 compared to 2023/4.
Following the Budget, Mr Francois demanded to know: “Does Russia have to get to Warsaw before we start spending what we need to on Defence?”
Committee chairman Jeremy Quin said that Mr Shapps’s referral to us being in a “pre-war” state “does not appear to be reflected in his Department’s Budget allocation”.
A senior industry source has now told the Express: “At a time of heightened conflict in what the Defence Secretary describes as “a more contested world”, a projected fall in defence spending is as alarming as it is confusing.
“How can we ‘prepare for war’, as Shapps recently urged, if we fail to invest in our Armed Forces and the vital industry that supports them?”
Yesterday, security minister Tom Tugendhat appeared to break rank and pile public pressure on the Chancellor to boost defence spending.
Mr Tugendhat said the Government should achieve 2.5% “and beyond” of GDP on defence spending, in an apparent break from official policy.
Asked if he wants Mr Hunt to do more, the senior minister said he wants “to achieve 2.5% now, as soon as possible”.
