It’s vital that increased defence spending drives jobs and growth in the UK, as well as sovereign capability

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has announced that the government will increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP.

He made the announcement while on a visit to Poland, and matches a recent pledge by the Labour Party to also meet the 2.5% figure.

Mike Clancy, General Secretary of Prospect union, said:

“For years Prospect has been campaigning for more defence spending and for more of that spending to deliver skilled UK jobs. It is welcome that we now have the two major parties committed to spending 2.5% of GDP.

“The UK has a world-leading defence sector workforce, and our expertise in the area generates jobs and growth for communities the length of the country.

“It is vital that this increase in spending is accompanied by a pledge to spend more of it here at home, to maximise the benefits to our economy and our sovereign capabilities.”