The Government is set to publish its long-awaited Defence Investment Plan today, with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer saying it will help keep the UK 'safe and secure long into the future.' However, the plan is already facing criticism after claims it falls well short of what the Ministry of Defence needs. The package is expected to total £14.5 billion over the next four years, but questions remain over how much of that is actually new funding.
Concerns have also been raised about whether the investment is enough to deal with the financial pressures facing the department, which had hoped the plan would help close a £28 billion gap in its accounts. While the Prime Minister has unveiled £5 billion for drones, defence insiders argue that very little of it represents fresh spending, fuelling concerns about Britain's military readiness and long-term defence commitments.
