The Chief of the Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Knighton, has issued a stark warning that the UK's armed forces will be forced to curtail training and operational activities unless they receive a more substantial financial allocation than currently proposed. Sir Richard told the Lords International Relations and Defence Committee on Tuesday morning that the government's Defence Investment Plan (DIP) does not allocate sufficient funds to support essential 'day-to-day activities' in the short term, which are crucial for maintaining operational readiness.
This intervention echoes concerns raised by former Defence Secretary John Healey, who resigned last week partly over the issue. Mr Healey stated that the proposed cash settlement for defence would 'reduce the readiness of our Forces and increase the risk to personnel on operations'. In a statement to the Commons, he asserted his resignation was 'necessary in securing the future of Britain's armed forces and our alliances', attributing his decision to a commitment to the country rather than personal career ambitions. He also criticised Chancellor Rachel Reeves, suggesting she was 'unwilling' to provide adequate funds, warning that 'our adversaries do not follow timetables set by the Treasury'.
The government has publicly committed to increasing defence spending to 3.5% of national income by 2035, aligning with targets set by NATO allies. However, Mr Healey has advocated for a more immediate increase, proposing that the UK should be spending 3% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) on defence by 2030. He highlighted in his resignation statement that current defence investment plans fall 'well short of what is required', noting a minimal rise of 0.08% from next year to 2030, with no clear timeline for reaching 3% or 3.5%.
Sir Richard Knighton elaborated on his concerns, stating that his primary worry is the level of funding for 'day-to-day activity', specifically the resource departmental expenditure limit. He explained that this funding underpins operational activity, exercises, and training, which are vital for ensuring the armed forces are prepared with their current equipment. He warned that without changes to the current settlement, these critical areas would come under significant pressure, leading to a necessary 'dial back' of activities if resource funding does not increase.
The Defence Investment Plan, initially scheduled for publication last week, has been further delayed following Mr Healey's departure. The new Defence Secretary, Dan Jarvis, is currently reviewing how defence funds will be allocated. However, Downing Street has not indicated that additional funding will be made available beyond existing commitments. The Prime Minister, Sir Keir, speaking at the G7 summit, affirmed that the government is increasing the defence budget from 2.3% of GDP to 2.6% and that the DIP would provide 'capability for the future', noting that money had already been reallocated from other departments to defence.
Mr Healey was followed out of the Ministry of Defence by Armed Forces Minister Al Carns, who also resigned, stating in his letter that the investment level in the DIP was 'inadequate to the task' of defending the country. Mr Carns further criticised the DIP for not paying enough attention to modern drone warfare, focusing too heavily on traditional defence hardware.