British Labour MP for Plymouth Sutton and Devonport since 2017, Defence Minister of Readiness.
The government has announced a defence investment plan raising the overall defence budget to nearly 300 billion pounds over four years. The package includes a 15 billion pound uplift funded by reprioritising spending, with sources indicating a funding gap still to be filled. The plan faces scrutiny over timetable and GDP targets as a transition unfolds.
The UK government has stopped in-country assistance for relocating eligible Afghans who worked with British forces, directing them to seek relocation via third countries. The move comes as MPs, lawyers, and advocates warn of hardship and risk for Afghan allies left behind, with ongoing debates over safety and access to asylum.
The Defence Investment Plan (DIP) has been published, detailing a 2.7% of GDP defence spend by 2029 with a 3% target in the next Parliament. The plan shifts funding away from road and energy projects to weapons, drones, and naval capabilities, while promising efficiencies and a long-term upgrade in nuclear deterrence. Several ministers have resigned over the funding levels amid a controversial rollout that may be revisited by a new prime minister.
The Defence Investment Plan has uplifted defence spending by £15bn over four years, but nearly a third remains unfunded. Downing Street says the autumn Budget will spell out how the gap will be filled, while Labour and defence chiefs warn of tax rises or spending cuts unless additional funding is secured.