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By The Guardian
Labour defence secretary Dan Jarvis has described incoming prime minister Andy Burnham as a “true patriot” who will secure the resources needed to keep Britain safe, while confirming a £298bn defence investment plan that aims to raise defence spending to 3.5% of GDP by 2035. Jarvis made the comments today during a visit to a factory in Cambridge, where he stated he had known Burnham for more than 15 years and was confident the next prime minister understood the capabilities required given the nature of the world.
The plan includes an additional £15bn in funding over the next four years, reprioritised from across government, and will create nearly 60,000 skilled defence jobs across the UK. However, Jarvis admitted that Burnham will face a significant funding gap, with reports indicating a £4.7bn black hole in the plan that the incoming prime minister must resolve.
Jarvis said Burnham was briefed on the contents of the plan but was surprised by the funding gap when it emerged today. The defence secretary confirmed that defence spending will be the number one priority in the next spending review, with a binding commitment to reach 3% of GDP in the next parliament and 3.5% by 2035.
Jarvis expressed complete confidence that Burnham, as prime minister, will safeguard national security and ensure the country has the investment and capabilities needed to work with allies at a point of challenge. The plan includes more than £5bn for drones and autonomous systems over the next four years, as announced by outgoing prime minister Keir Starmer on Tuesday.
Starmer, who is expected to leave office next month after losing support from Labour MPs, will present the plan to NATO leaders at a summit in Ankara on July 7-8. Jarvis stated he had not a shred of doubt about Burnham’s commitment to national security and that the resources and capabilities needed would be secured at a point of challenge.
The defence secretary noted that the commitment to 3.5% of GDP by 2035 is binding, and a trajectory must be charted to reach that point. Jarvis said the plan would create nearly 60,000 jobs around the UK, with £15bn secured for this purpose.
The funding gap of £4.7bn means Burnham will inherit a bill to deliver the Defence Investment Plan before worrying about how to boost defence spending further as the next general election looms. Jarvis described the situation as a “hand grenade for the next chancellor” during an interview on the Cathy Newman Show.
Sir Keir Starmer announced the long-delayed defence investment plan on Tuesday, reprioritising spending across government to fund the additional £15bn. The plan foresees spending nearly £80bn a year by 2029, with Starmer wanting to signal Britain is on track to spend 3.5% of its gross domestic product on defence by 2035.
Jarvis said he was absolutely confident of the importance Burnham attaches to national security and that the resources and capabilities needed would be secured at a point of challenge. The defence secretary confirmed that the commitment to 3.5% of GDP by 2035 is binding, and a trajectory must be charted to reach that point.
Jarvis stated that the plan would create nearly 60,000 jobs around the UK, with £15bn secured for this purpose. The funding gap of £4.7bn means Burnham will inherit a bill to deliver the Defence Investment Plan before worrying about how to boost defence spending further as the next general election looms.
Jarvis described the situation as a “hand grenade for the next chancellor” during an interview on the Cathy Newman Show. Sir Keir Starmer announced the long-delayed defence investment plan on Tuesday, reprioritising spending across government to fund the additional £15bn.
The plan foresees spending nearly £80bn a year by 2029, with Starmer wanting to signal Britain is on track to spend 3.5% of its gross domestic product on defence by 2035. Jarvis said he was absolutely confident of the importance Burnham attaches to national security and that the resources and capabilities needed would be secured at a point of challenge.
The defence secretary confirmed that the commitment to 3.5% of GDP by 2035 is binding, and a trajectory must be charted to reach that point. Jarvis stated that the plan would create nearly 60,000 jobs around the UK, with £15bn secured for this purpose.
The funding gap of £4.7bn means Burnham will inherit a bill to deliver the Defence Investment Plan before worrying about how to boost defence spending further as the next general election looms. Jarvis described the situation as a “hand grenade for the next chancellor” during an interview on the Cathy Newman Show.
Sir Keir Starmer announced the long-delayed defence investment plan on Tuesday, reprioritising spending across government to fund the additional £15bn. The plan foresees spending nearly £80bn a year by 2029, with Starmer wanting to signal Britain is on track to spend 3.5% of its gross domestic product on defence by 2035.
Jarvis said he was absolutely confident of the importance Burnham attaches to national security and that the resources and capabilities needed would be secured at a point of challenge. The defence secretary confirmed that the commitment to 3.5% of GDP by 2035 is binding, and a trajectory must be charted to reach that point.
Jarvis stated that the plan would create nearly 60,000 jobs around the UK, with £15bn secured for this purpose. The funding gap of £4.7bn means Burnham will inherit a bill to deliver the Defence Investment Plan before worrying about how to boost defence spending further as the next general election looms.
Jarvis described the situation as a “hand grenade for the next chancellor” during an interview on the Cathy Newman Show. Sir Keir Starmer announced the long-delayed defence investment plan on Tuesday, reprioritising spending across government to fund the additional £15bn.
The plan foresees spending nearly £80bn a year by 2029, with Starmer wanting to signal Britain is on track to spend 3.5% of its gross domestic product on defence by 2035. Jarvis said he was absolutely confident of the importance Burnham attaches to national security and that the resources and capabilities needed would be secured at a point of challenge.
The defence secretary confirmed that the commitment to 3.5% of GDP by 2035 is binding, and a trajectory must be charted to reach that point. Jarvis stated that the plan would create nearly 60,000 jobs around the UK, with £15bn secured for this purpose.
The funding gap of £4.7bn means Burnham will inherit a bill to deliver the Defence Investment Plan before worrying about how to boost defence spending further as the next general election looms. Jarvis described the situation as a “hand grenade for the next chancellor” during an interview on the Cathy Newman Show.
Sir Keir Starmer announced the long-delayed defence investment plan on Tuesday, reprioritising spending across government to fund the additional £15bn. The plan foresees spending nearly £80bn a year by 2029, with Starmer wanting to signal Britain is on track to spend 3.5% of its gross domestic product on defence by 2035.
Jarvis said he was absolutely confident of the importance Burnham attaches to national security and that the resources and capabilities needed would be secured at a point of challenge. The defence secretary confirmed that the commitment to 3.5% of GDP by 2035 is binding, and a trajectory must be charted to reach that point.
Jarvis stated that the plan would create nearly 60,000 jobs around the UK, with £15bn secured for this purpose. The funding gap of £4.7bn means Burnham will inherit a bill to deliver the Defence Investment Plan before worrying about how to boost defence spending further as the next general election looms.
Jarvis described the situation as a “hand grenade for the next chancellor” during an interview on the Cathy Newman Show. Sir Keir Starmer announced the long-delayed defence investment plan on Tuesday, reprioritising spending across government to fund the additional £15bn.
The plan foresees spending nearly £80bn a year by 2029, with Starmer wanting to signal Britain is on track to spend 3.5% of its gross domestic product on defence by 2035. Jarvis said