Officials will lobby Burnham to revive ‘war bonds’ idea to pay for higher defence spending

British defence spending ‘went from 2.9% in 1936, to 9% in 1939, to 52% of GDP in 1945​,’ well beyond the 2.7% target spend next year. Photograph: Cpl Daryll Knott/MoD/Crown Copyright/PA

Senior government officials are planning to lobby Andy Burnham during access talks to revive the idea of “war bonds” to pay for higher defence spending when he becomes prime minister, the Guardian understands.

Senior figures, including some in No 10, want the Treasury to be allowed to borrow more for military spending and will try to convince Burnham to invest beyond the £13.5bn earmarked for the long-awaited Defence Investment Plan (Dip).