Wes Streeting, the UK defence secretary, has said he would resign if Andy Burnham fails to properly fund Britain's defence spending, describing it as "a matter of principle". His warning follows revelations that the government's defence investment plan (DIP), published last month, contains a £4.7bn shortfall, with almost £5bn of its promised £15bn uplift left unfunded. Streeting said he only accepted the role after seeking assurances that the prime minister and chancellor were committed to adequate defence investment, and insisted chancellor John Healey would set out how the DIP would be "fully funded" at future fiscal events.

The row follows John Healey's resignation as defence secretary earlier this year, when he accused Sir Keir Starmer of being "unwilling to commit the resources" needed for national security and called for spending to reach 3 per cent of GDP by 2030, above the agreed 2.7 per cent settlement. Burnham has not committed to that 3 per cent target, and his government is reportedly not considering "defence bonds" as a funding solution, despite Healey previously floating the idea. Streeting nonetheless expressed confidence in Healey, pointing to Britain's pledge to spend 3.5 per cent of GDP on defence by 2035 and stressing priorities including reindustrialisation, domestic production and maintaining alliance readiness.