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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
National
Athena Stavrou

How Andy Burnham is being handed a £4.7bn defence ‘black hole’

Andy Burnham Sir Keir Starmer
  • Andy Burnham , the likely successor to the outgoing prime minister, reportedly discovered a £4.7 billion funding shortfall in Sir Keir Starmer ’s defence spending plan on the day it was published.
  • The outgoing prime minister unveiled a £15 billion Defence Investment Plan (DIP) over four years, but chancellor Rachel Reeves confirmed only £10.3 billion had been identified, with the remaining sum to be confirmed at Budget 2026.
  • This means Mr Burnham will be responsible for securing the additional £4.7 billion in his first Budget, despite suggestions he was not fully briefed on the financial details beforehand.
  • Defence minister Luke Pollard stated he also only saw the funding breakdown on the day of publication, though he insisted it is 'not unusual' for governments to finalise details at a later budget.
  • The funding gap has been criticised by former Tory defence secretary Sir Liam Fox as a 'poisoned chalice' for Mr Burnham, while current Defence Secretary Dan Jarvis denied it was a deliberate challenge.

IN FULL

Burnham told of £4.7bn gap in Starmer’s defence improvement plan on day it was published, minister suggests

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