Defence Secretary Wes Streeting has publicly rebuked Prime Minister Andy Burnham over defence spending, warning that schools, hospitals and homes are "valueless" if the country is reduced to "rubble" by an adversary such as Russia. The intervention came a day after Burnham told PMQs that national security "cannot come at the expense of social security", a remark that provoked a strong backlash across the political spectrum, including from Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch, who accused Labour of prioritising welfare over defence. The clash exposes a growing rift within Labour over how much of the country's finances should go towards the armed forces amid heightened threats from Russia.

The row centres on when the UK should hit 3% of GDP on defence spending, and the longer-term Nato target of 3.5%, with current projections showing Britain reaching only 2.7% by 2030 — behind Germany's planned 3.5% and well short of Poland's existing 4.7%. Former defence secretary John Healey had pushed for 3% by 2030 before resigning in June, but shelved the pledge on becoming Chancellor. Compounding the tension, Streeting revealed the Army, Navy and RAF must find £3billion in "efficiencies" this year, forcing cancelled exercises, grounded aircraft and docked ships, alongside a near-£5billion shortfall in the government's £298billion Defence Investment Plan for 2026-2030.