Burnham says he would fund UK defence plan despite budget gap
Andy Burnham said he would take responsibility for funding a major UK defence plan as questions persist over a £4.7bn shortfall.
By James Whitfield · Staff Writer
3 min read
Andy Burnham said he would find the money for the United Kingdom’s planned defence buildup, addressing a funding gap that has put pressure on Labour’s expected next leader. The pledge matters because Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s defence plan includes a multibillion-pound increase, but Al Jazeera reported that the source of £4.7bn of the money remains unclear.
Burnham made the comments on LBC’s “Tonight with Andrew Marr” on Thursday, according to Al Jazeera and the UK’s Press Association news agency. He said he had not been part of all the talks on the defence investment plan, but described the issue as one the country had to treat seriously.
“What I can say to you tonight is I will take my responsibilities fully to fund the defence investment plan,” Burnham said, according to Press Association. “If I am in the position to do so, I will take those responsibilities extremely seriously.”
Al Jazeera reported that Burnham is expected to replace Starmer later this month. His remarks came days after questions were raised over how Labour would pay for part of the defence package.
Defence funding under scrutiny
Starmer announced a £15bn increase in defence spending over the next four years, Al Jazeera reported. The broader plan totals nearly £300bn and is intended to modernise Britain’s armed forces.
According to Al Jazeera, the UK is facing concerns about weakened military capacity while officials and allies weigh the risk that Russia could attack NATO member states in the coming years. The unresolved £4.7bn portion represents nearly one-third of the planned increase, Al Jazeera reported.
Burnham told LBC that Britain needed to build resilience as threats change. He said the country was facing a changing world and a changing threat environment.
Welfare and tax questions
Burnham also addressed welfare policy, saying he would not pursue what he called “crude cuts to benefit levels,” according to Al Jazeera. He said reductions that push struggling people further into poverty can provoke understandable backlash.
Instead, Burnham said he wanted a longer-term approach. He cited more council housing and support for young people taking education routes outside university as examples, Al Jazeera reported.
The welfare issue has been difficult for Labour. Starmer faced criticism from within his party last year over a plan to reduce parts of the welfare system, including an initial proposal to tighten eligibility for some physical and mental disability benefits, according to Al Jazeera.
On taxes, Burnham said he would broadly stand by Labour’s manifesto and the promises voters backed in the party’s 2024 election win, Al Jazeera reported. He also said the manifesto left some flexibility on tax policy.
Burnham pointed to the possibility of higher business taxes on warehouses and major developments, while lowering rates for pubs, according to Al Jazeera. He did not set out a detailed funding mechanism for the defence gap in the reported comments.
This story draws on original reporting from Al Jazeera.