Minister for the Armed Forces Luke Pollard was subjected to an uncomfortable interview on Sky News this morning as the government prepares to launch its long-awaited Strategic Defence Review (SDR).
The SDR will set out the UK’s plan for defence over the next decade and includes a range of plans to procure nuclear submarines, invest in defence infrastructure and develop the armed forces abilities in cyber and AI.
The reports authors Lord Robertson, Dr Fiona Hill and General Sir Richard Barrons have said that the government’s promise to increase defence spending to 3% was vitally important” in allowing them to make the 62 recommendations for improvement and investment.
However on yesterday’s media round, Defence Secretary John Healey refused to confirm that the Treasury had committed to the increase, describing the plan as “an ambition”.
Speaking this morning, Pollard was challenged on the likelihood of defence spending raising as planned.
Sky News host Matt Barbet challenged him: “What I am hearing is that the defence review is based on spending 3% of GDp but you can’t commit to that money, have I got that right?”
To which Pollard responded: “No, the position has not changed since the prime minister announced this in February.”
“If it hasn’t changed, then you have not got that commitment from the Chancellor have you? You haven’t got that money to spend.”
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