Jeremy Hunt admits Britain will have to spend more money on defence in future in the face of growing Russian aggression - after rejecting calls to increase Armed Forces cash in Budget

Jeremy Hunt today admitted that Britain will have up spending on its military in the future – after rejecting calls to increase defence cash in the Budget.

The Chancellor was quizzed today over plans for tax cuts in Wednesday’s fiscal showpiece, amid claims he may take a penny off either income tax and national insurance, or both.

Opinion polls have suggested that the public would rather more money was invested in public services, but Mr Hunt is under pressure from Tory backbenchers to reduce taxes to boost the party’s re-election hopes.

Reports suggest that defence is one of the areas where he has rejected calls for greater investment, despite fears of increased Russia aggression in Europe in the coming years and fears over British preparedness.

Yesterday it was reported Defence Secretary Grant Shapps wrote to the Chancellor in January, urging him to boost military spending by £9billion.

Such an increase would mean defence spending would surge to 2.5 per cent of GDP – a share that Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has said he would like to achieve when economic circumstances allow.

Appearing on the BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuennsberg, the host asked: ‘Is it not right to be looking to spend money in other places rather than scraping around for what might be quite small tax cuts? ‘

Mr Hunt replied: ‘Well if we’re going to spend more money on defence, as I believe we will need to do in the future, what we need to have is a healthily growing economy. Every decision that I take will be a prudent and responsible long term decision.’

The Chancellor was quizzed today over plans for tax cuts in Wednesday’s fiscal showpiece, amid claims he may take a penny off either income tax and national insurance, or both.

Reports suggest that defence is one of the areas where he has rejected calls for greater investment, despite fears of increased Russia aggression in Europe in the coming years and fears over British preparedness.

Fears are growing over the state of the Armed Forces and whether they can fight a full-blown conflict against Russia.

Criticism has been levelled at a lack of manpower and equipment, with the Army soon to be at its smallest size since the Napoleonic wars.

On Friday Air Force chiefs refused to back down on a decision to retire 30 ‘quick reaction alert’ jets used to protect British skies from potential attacks by Vladimir Putin.

In a move likened to ‘scrapping Spitfires before the Battle of Britain’, bosses at the cash-strapped RAF are to retire the Tranche 1 Typhoons to save money.

The jets, which still have thousands of miles left on their clocks and could continue to fly for several years, will be grounded after completing just 40 per cent of their predicted flying hours.

RAF Tranche 1 Typhoon jets in flight. In a move likened to ‘scrapping Spitfires before the Battle of Britain’, bosses at the cash-strapped RAF are to retire the Tranche 1 Typhoons to save money. The jets will be grounded completing just 40 per cent of their predicted flying hours (stock image)

The future of Britain’s second aircraft carrier is under threat due to funding issues, naval sources have claimed

And that followed the revelation that the future of Britain’s second aircraft carrier is under threat due to funding issues.

Sources fear HMS Prince of Wales, which cost £3.5billion to build, could be mothballed or sold for a knockdown price to a friendly nation, over the fleet’s flagship HMS Queen Elizabeth.

The possible move – branded an ‘HS2 moment’ for the Royal Navy – would probably be divisive.

But the decision could be forced upon commanders as soon as 2028 if the state of defence finances does not improve.

Senior figures spoke out after it emerged the Budget will not include any significant rise in defence spending.

Read more