Labor poses 'danger' to UK defense, says Shapps

Grant Shapps says Labour's decision not to commit to a clear timetable for increasing defense spending will «send a signal». No. 39; to Britain's enemies that «we don't take our defense seriously»; Photo: Lucy North/PA

Grant Shapps said Labor was «a danger» to the UK by failing to deliver on Tory defense spending promises.

The Government has committed to increasing defense spending to 2.5 percent of GDP by 2030.

The Labor Party has said it will try to achieve this target, but only when economic circumstances allow.

Mr Shapps, the defense secretary, said Labour's decision not to stick to a clear deadline would «send a signal» to Britain's enemies that «we are not serious about our defence».

He told Sky News: «You you cannot wish for an increase in defense spending. You have to formulate plans and implement them, and that is why our plans now are fundamentally different from Labour's.

«And I have to say as Defense Secretary with everything I know in this role that I think Labour's position is a danger to this country because it will send a message to our adversaries that we are not serious about our defense if not we will set that timetable.»

It comes after Rishi Sunak warned in a major speech on Monday that the UK would be less secure under Sir Keir Starmer and a Labor government.

Sir Keir rejected the claim and said Labor was «much more serious». than the Tories on national security issues.

Senior Tory figures hope defense spending will be a key dividing line with Labor at the next general election, expected to be held this autumn.

Mark Francois, a former armed forces minister, said: “Shapps is right — just look at the top of the shadow cabinet.”

“Starmer tried very hard to make that CND buff Corbyn prime minister. Both Angela Rayner, deputy leader of the Labor Party, and David Lammy, the shadow foreign secretary, voted against renewing our nuclear deterrent.

“And Rachel Reeves, the shadow chancellor, has little interest in the topic other than stopping the Labor Party . setting a time frame for achieving 2.5 percent of GDP for defense, so it is pointless. Their best team gives away the game — Labor simply cannot be trusted to defend.”

It comes after Johnny Mercer, the Veterans Affairs Secretary, used a Sun newspaper column to accuse Sir Keir of having a «previous lack of interest» in defense issues, writing: «Voting Labor on defense or veterans is not serious.» Recalling his military service under the Labor government, Mr Mercer added: “Basic body armor was distributed among tank crews because there wasn't enough to get around, rifles didn't work in the sand and we were sent to fight in vehicles. . this gave us scant protection from enemy attack.»

In an interview with the i newspaper last month, Sir Keir noted that defense was the «number one issue for any government» and said a more dangerous world meant more money. would need to be spent on the army.

But he insisted Labor would only commit extra money if it was possible within the party's borrowing rules set by Ms Reeves.