In an increasingly uncertain world, it is imperative for the UK to bolster its defence capabilities by raising defence spending to 3% of GDP. This policy would not only ensure that our armed forces remain strong and prepared to respond to global threats but also signal to our allies and adversaries alike that Britain is committed to safeguarding its interests and those of the free world. At a time when geopolitical tensions are on the rise, from Russian aggression in Eastern Europe to the growing influence of China in the Indo-Pacific, it is crucial that the UK takes proactive steps to secure its national security.
Currently, the UK’s defence budget stands at around 2.3% of GDP, just meeting the NATO minimum requirement. However, with threats evolving and becoming more complex, this level of funding is no longer sufficient to equip our forces with the advanced technology, training, and resources they need to protect the nation. By increasing defence spending to 3% of GDP, the UK can invest in critical areas such as cyber defence, intelligence gathering, and modernising its naval and air capabilities. This would not only enhance our ability to deter potential adversaries but also strengthen our position as a leading military power within NATO and beyond.
Moreover, increasing defence spending would provide a significant boost to the UK’s economy. The defence sector is a key driver of innovation, supporting thousands of high-skilled jobs across the country, particularly in areas like shipbuilding, aerospace, and cyber technology. By investing more in our armed forces, the Government would also be investing in British industry, promoting economic growth, and ensuring that the UK remains at the forefront of technological advancements in defence.
This is not just a matter of military preparedness; it is about ensuring the UK’s long-term security and stability. In a world where conflicts can arise unpredictably, having a well-funded and well-prepared military is essential. Increasing defence spending to 3% of GDP would not only demonstrate the UK’s commitment to its own security but also reinforce our standing as a dependable ally capable of supporting global stability. The time has come for the Government to prioritise defence, protect our national interests, and safeguard the freedoms that define our way of life.
I thoroughly support this but cannot see the current government doing it: they are short of money and Labour always took shortcuts with our defence in the past. Their EU friends will not want to see the UK embarrassing them by upping our defence commitment - which would bind Trump into NATO - at the same time as the EU is scared of Trump’s proposed import tariffs and the economic damage that will cause them (after so many years during which the main EU countries were able to use non-Eurozone member states including the UK as a trade dumping ground, as they have used the USA).
Whilst I agree with the sentiment, 3% is woefully insufficient given the current state of the armed forces and the level of threat we face. We need to raise it to 5%. I know that would, if done traditionally, would cause significant economic problems. However, there are ways to turn the problem into an opportunity…
Having an insurmountable defence is far more than just fielding a strong military. Without strong logistics, the military cannot be kept armed and equipped during sustained operations. Without a robust manufacturing base, production cannot be easily ramped up to replace equipment losses during a long duration, high intensity conflict. Without a thriving semiconductor industry, we are hopelessly reliant on vulnerable supply chains from Taiwan to produce all manner of modern equipment from computers to radars, jets to missiles.
Our current manpower, number of weapons platforms, equipment and ammunition stockpiles are woefully inadequate for a major conflagration, let alone a prolonged high-intensity conflict. It is therefore imperative that we lay the groundwork for large-scale industrial output before we invest in defence. As you said, there is a lot of potential for growth associated with this. If we can make our entire military supply chain self-sufficient, we will greatly increase our national security as well as providing fantastic export opportunities. It would also create tens of thousands of jobs. To do this, we need to incentivise the private sector to invest in several component production areas where we are lacking, with steel and semiconductors marked as a critical priority.
The Integrity Party is currently analysing the current situation regarding military size, structure, requirements, procurement and doctrine. A comprehensive plan will be will be available when we publish our Armed Forces Modernisation Proposal (AFMP) later this year.
We’re not short of money. We just chose to spend it elsewhere, namely welfare - by far our greatest outgoing, sustaining inactivity and dependency. Our defence spending should not be dependent on the feelings of our EU friends. We should be setting the example. Not only does it strengthen our national security and influence, but it is an incredibly important part of our economy and should be an even greater part of the growth agenda and advances in tech and innovation.
As an ex-soldier I am in favour of increasing defence spending, though I would also like to see commercial oversight as to how the money is spent. This would be with a non-government independent and transparent overseer, with regular reviews on how procurements are administered. Plus a strategic review of what we need to spend the money on with regards to new types of warfare. Drones, lasers, robotics, use of Starlink satellites and Ai. Another point on this topic is that sometimes procurement and production takes so long to administer that the technology is already out-dated before it arrives in the theatre.
Building up defence is one thing. Getting them to defend us instead of attacking us is another. Everything depends on how cohesive the country is, I can’t imagine how England / Britain / The UK can ever return to being a cohesive country. Time to re-group
I believe that there is a definite apatite for an increase in War ministry funding.
But one area I believe that this could be used is training of the squadies and officers to a level where they can go out into the world after service as a tradesman or even white collar worker.
I have laid out my suggestion in the below, which would be to use this to create effectively the roman system where the army is massively involved in civil works, but limiting it to trades skills is also a bonus:
I agree with this policy, but we have to look again at how MOD procurement works - it seems incredibly wasteful - if we are going to increase spending we need to ensure we get value for it.
Nobody would currently want to defend the UK, as the Uni-Party has given every right away of its citizens. Why would you protect something that hates you.
We need to build national pride in the schools (not constantly self flagellate over our history…Which for the most part was quite magnificent, especially when you judge other countries side by side) and when the people feel like they love their country and it loves them, then you will have a far better fighting force than just adding some GDP.
Of course I’d like to see some extra resources going to the armed forces, but whilst they are hell bent on DEI, it is a “total” waste of money.
The Army does not need rainbows etc, it needs violent men from council estates, controlled by violent NCOs from council estates, led by a very well educated and equally violent middle and upper class officer. Who all meticulously follow and respect military law, but are very eager to meet the potential enemies of our country, instead of eager to identify as a gender neutral tree hugger…It is that simple.
Absolutely right. Also, we need to learn from the use of cheap drones, and project out that technology so as not to invest in expensive, but ultimately useless, weapons
I love the start you have made and your passion. I agree with you but I cannot vote on this. The simple reason is that you have placed a percentage goal on this. If we clear out the excess spending by removing ourselves from organisations like the WTO, the WHO etc et al we could massively increase our military spending and we need to.
We need to first consider the purpose of the military. That’s easy to defend our nation. Then we need to take a serious look at the threat to our country and invest in countermeasures. The whole of the UK should be protected by a British version of the newly Planned Lazer Iron dome of Israel. We need to be able to defend the entire rhelm and mount a do not F with us response of the type that would be able to give the USA a split lip and a black eye as a proportional response should they try anything with us. So While I agree with you, I think that the nature of Geo Politics has reached a level where we need to seriously reinvent and reinvest in the British Military. I propose that we reduce the wasteful spending that the UK commits to like giving aid to countries with their own space program and we pour that money into rebuilding our once mighty military. If as a country we are wasting 1% of GDP you can bet we are wasting 10%.
Tanks don’t work. The Ukraine has just proven that standard modern military warfare has seen us return to WW1 tactics and techniques. We need AI capable drones with the new high intensity lazer weapons built into them. We need a WW2 level response to areal combatants and that needs to be lazer in nature, we need to develop a new diplomatic standing in the world and we need to be able to defend all of our territories including Canada NZ and OZ. We also need to increase our military strength in the Falklands as a direct response to the complaints of Argentina. All of our territory needs to be soveriegn and we need to ensure that no government can give any of it away or sell it or find ourselves paying to use that which is ours ever again and we need to take back that which has been stolen from us by globalism with the threat of war looming but not spoken, This is not something that should be used as a diplomatic form of antagonism but we should defend that which is ours. We should also look at the terms by which we returned Hong Kong to China. If the CCP has overstepped in any way we should take it back. That enables America to defend Taiwan and buy them some time before we have to eventually decide what our response to China needs to be, So I agree with your increase, but I disagree with the amount Too many successive decades of devestment has starved the military. I honestly think we should be spending a quarter of 1% on new training facilities and modernising our training practices so we can go back to claiming the best trained military in the world.
