Burnham admits no current plan to hit 3% defence spending pledge

Andy Burnham has admitted there is no current plan to increase defence spending to three per cent of GDP. The UK has already committed to raising dfence spending to 2.5 per cent by 2027 before moving to a target of 3 per cent in the next Parliament, and more recently, 3.5 per cent by 2035. “We’ve got to work out the way of doing that,” Burnham told the BBC when asked about the target. Commenting further of the defence investment plan, which current Chancellor, John Healey, resigned over during his time in the previous government, Burnham said the pair must make sure the plan is fully funded. There remains a £5bn blackhole in the current spending budget. “The first challenge facing us both is to ensure that the defence investment plan is fully funded and that’s the thing that’s right in front of us and we need to work that through as we go towards the budget later this year,” he added. Burnham admits no current plan to hit 3% defence spending pledge Sort: July 26, 2026 8:01 amBurnham admits no current plan to hit 3% defence spending pledge Andy Burnham has admitted there is no current plan to increase defence spending to three per cent of GDP. The UK has already committed to raising dfence spending to 2.5 per cent by 2027 before moving to a target of 3 per cent in the next Parliament, and more recently, 3.5 per cent by 2035. “We’ve got to work out the way of doing that,” Burnham told the BBC when asked about the target. Commenting further of the defence investment plan, which current Chancellor, John Healey resigned over during his time in the previous government, Burnham said the pair must make sure the plan is fully funded. There remains a £5bn blackhole in the current spending budget. “The first challenge facing us both is to ensure that the defence investment plan is fully funded and that’s the thing that’s right in front of us and we need to work that through as we go towards the budget later this year,” he added. Follow The i Paper’s live blog for the latest updates.