Outgoing UK PM Starmer to boost defense spending by £1 billion to secure legacy

Outgoing British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is pledging to secure at least £1 billion in additional funding for the defense sector, according to people familiar with the matter.

The move is being viewed as an effort by Starmer to cement his political legacy in the prime minister’s office before stepping down, the Financial Times reported.

Sources said Starmer aims to publicly present the defense sector investment plan on Tuesday, June 30, following multiple prior delays to its publication.

Under the plan, the total funding volume for the armed forces over the next four years is expected to rise approximately £14.5 billion to £15 billion above previously projected levels.

The Starmer-led government had previously proposed providing £13.5 billion in additional resources for defense needs.

However, former Defence Secretary John Healey opposed the prime minister’s proposal, viewing the amount as insufficient, and subsequently resigned from his post in June.

Healey had insisted on an £18 billion increase in the defense budget. In his resignation statement, the outgoing secretary called on the head of government to commit to raising military spending to 3% of gross domestic product by 2030.

Healey noted that the prime minister’s existing plan would only maintain this ratio at 2.68%.

Following these developments, newly appointed Defence Secretary Dan Jarvis reshaped the budget plan and made several difficult decisions, according to sources.

The new program drafted by Jarvis reportedly places a higher priority on the combat readiness of the military and the deployment of autonomous technologies—including unmanned ground vehicles—across all military units compared to the proposals put forward by the departed Healey.

A government official indicated that in the event of potential last-minute disruptions, the ultimate deadline for the announcement would be July 6, immediately ahead of the NATO summit to be held in Ankara.

The Financial Times pointed to the obligation to demonstrate to allied countries, most notably US President Donald Trump, that the United Kingdom is making serious investments in defense as a key source of pressure on Starmer.

According to assertions in the report, Starmer could hand over prime ministerial authority to Andy Burnham, who is seen as his strongest successor, as early as July 20.

Sources familiar with the process noted that Burnham has already begun receiving briefings on government operations.

Furthermore, sources stated that Burnham has privately agreed with arguments that the spending plan should be approved before the NATO summit rather than being delayed.

Conversely, one source did not rule out the possibility that the incoming prime minister could face more intense pressure, which could lead to a reassessment of defense funding.

Commenting on the position of the military leadership, the source remarked: “The military wing has adopted an attitude of ‘it is better than nothing,’ but we will have to renegotiate this issue with the new Prime Minister, Andy Burnham, in any case.”

Keir Starmer announced in June that he would resign following pressure from within his own party.

Starmer has led the British government for approximately two years.