EXCLUSIVE from
@oliver_wright
Andy Burnham is considering delaying a decision about when the government will increase defence spending until the autumn of next year in the hope that Britain’s economy improves
The government had been expected to hold the spending review, which would set out a timetable for increasing defence spending to 3 per cent of GDP, in the spring. The review will set out plans for all government spending up until 2030
However, ministers are now considering delaying the review so it can take place alongside the next budget, enabling the government to raise taxes or cut spending to fund the increase. Hitting the Nato defence spending target would cost an extra £10bn a year
One Whitehall source said the “working assumption” was that the spending review would be pushed back until next October, pointing to the decision by Rachel Reeves to hold only one fiscal event a year
A government source said it would be wrong to characterise it as a delay as ministers had never set a date for the spending review
thetimes.com/article/4d87087…