Tory MP Mark Francois has publicly criticised the UK government’s plan to cut the defence budget next year, describing the move as “deeply dishonourable.” Francois alleges the government is disguising these cuts with singular payments to Ukraine and nuclear programme overspends. His comments come amid a backdrop of appeals from within the Conservative Party for increased defence spending, in light of what they perceive as evolving and escalating global security threats.

Defence Minister Grant Shapps, along with Security Minister Tom Tugendhat and Foreign Office Minister Anne-Marie Trevelyan, have voiced their concern, pushing for a significant rise in the military budget. Shapps, in particular, has advocated for military spending to reach 3% of GDP, a stance he reinforced during a visit to Poland. He highlighted inefficiencies in the recruitment process as an area needing reform to bolster the armed forces’ ranks and readiness.

These calls for increased funding and strategic adjustments align with criticisms regarding the recent Budget’s lack of additional defence allocations, despite former service chiefs flagging concerns over the current state of the UK’s armed forces. The Royal United Services Institute has calculated that meeting a 3% GDP target for defence spending by 2030 would necessitate a substantial increase in the budget.

This internal discord within the Conservative Party underscores the challenges the UK government faces in balancing national security needs with fiscal responsibilities, amid heightened global uncertainties.