Comments by Wes Streeting, which suggested ministers are considering plans to cut welfare spending to boost the UK’s defence budget, have been criticised by MPs and campaigners.
Speaking to LBC yesterday, the health secretary said that funding for defence “has to come from somewhere” in a move interpreted to be backing Labour’s former defence secretary and ex-Nato secretary general George Robertson earlier this week.
Lord Robertson, now a key government adviser, warned in his speech: “We cannot defend Britain with an ever-expanding welfare budget.”
Mr Streeting has previously said that money will not be diverted from health spending following Labour’s manifesto commitment to increase it. But asked if he would support switching funds from the welfare budget, Mr Streeting told LBC: “Well, yeah. We want to reduce the welfare budget.”
“We have been putting more money into defence as a government, but we will need more. That is the reality of the challenge of the world that we face,” he added.
Several MPs and campaigners have reacted negatively to his comments, with one branding them “extremely concerning”.
Last July, the government was forced to abandon £4 billion in proposed cuts to disability benefits in July after Labour MPs mounted a backbench rebellion against the plans.
Labour MP Rachael Maskell, a leader of the welfare rebellion, said: “I am clear that we have to provide household security and national security. It is a false choice to play one off against another. People supported by the Department for Work and Pensions are already struggling to make ends meet. The government must not contemplate such moves.”
Liberal Democrat work and pensions spokesperson, Steve Darling MP, reacted: “We urgently need to raise defence spending after the Conservative party shrunk our army to its smallest size in 200 years – but it is clear that the Labour government has no idea how to do it.
“The country needs serious solutions to fund our national defence – not ill thought, self-defeating plans to cut support for the most vulnerable in society.”
But chancellor Rachel Reeves appeared to indicate support for the health secretary’s position following his comments, telling reporters she is “willing to make difficult choices” to raise money for defence.
The government has pledged to raise defence spending to 2.5 per cent of GDP from April next year, and 3 per cent in the next parliament. But military chiefs believe there is a shortfall of around £28 billion after cuts made by successive administrations.
Meanwhile, spending on social security is forecast to reach £322.6 billion in 2025/26, representing 10.6 per cent of GDP. Just under half of this will be spent on maintaining the state pension (£146.1 billion).
Evan John, policy adviser at Sense, said it is “extremely concerning that the government seems to be laying the groundwork for further cuts to disability benefits”, while James Taylor, director of strategy at disability charity Scope warned the approach is “not the solution to any of our country’s problems”.
Welfare charity Turn2us’s head of policy & influencing Shelley Hopkinson, added :“Welfare should not be attacked when spending choices arise. Cutting support will only push thousands of families into hardship.”
A government spokesperson said: “This government is investing in defence and reforming welfare – the last government did neither.
“Defence spending is already rising to record levels, with the biggest sustained increase since the Cold War and £270 billion committed over this Parliament.
“We’re also focused on delivering serious and meaningful welfare reforms, with measures coming into effect this month saving nearly £2 billion by the end of the decade. We’re also investing £3.5 billion to help sick and disabled people into work as that’s the best way to put welfare spending on a sustainable footing in the long term.”
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