Starmer Publishes £15bn Defence Investment Plan in One of His Final Acts as PM
Sir Keir Starmer will today publish the long-delayed Defence Investment Plan, with an additional £15bn for defence over the coming decade, including £5bn earmarked for drones. The plan, originally due last year, was held up by Treasury disagreements over the funding envelope. The Ministry of Defence had wanted £28bn; the eventual settlement of £13.5bn was well short of that. The plan is one of Starmer’s last major policy acts before the Burnham coronation expected on 17 July. New Defence Secretary Dan Jarvis takes over implementation. Critics including the Telegraph say the spending still falls short of NATO peer commitments.
The Defence Investment Plan covers procurement of jets, warships and drones over a ten-year horizon. The £5bn drone allocation reflects lessons from the Ukraine war about the central role of unmanned systems. The plan implements the destroyer-replacement cancellation announced separately on Monday — the navy will procure six new “Common Combat Vessels” built around drone capabilities instead. UK defence spending will reach 2.69% of GDP by 2030 under the plan, compared with Germany’s 3.7% and Poland’s 4.48%. Telegraph commentary criticises Starmer for under-investing in his final act; Burnham’s incoming team will face pressure to revise upward.