# £11billion black hole through the middle of Healey’s defence vow

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/11billion-black-hole-through-the-middle-of-healeys-defence-vow/
- Published: 2026-10-30T00:53:47+00:00
- Updated: 2026-10-30T01:33:54+00:00
- Original publisher: Daily Mail (publisher lean: Right)
- Original article: https://www.dailymail.com/news/article-16250993/11billion-black-hole-middle-Healeys-defence-vow.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490
- Topics: Business, Economy, Europe, Geopolitics, Government, Politics, World

## Key points

- Healey set defence spending targets without explaining how to fund them.
- The IFS says the 2030 goal needs £11 billion more.
- The OBR estimates the 2035 ambition would cost £35 billion.

## Summary

John Healey’s Budget set goals to raise UK defence spending to 3 per cent of GDP by 2030 and 3.5 per cent by 2035, but did not explain how they would be funded. The lack of detail has prompted criticism that the commitments may not be delivered, with opponents and a Labour peer saying the delay risks undermining the Armed Forces.

The IFS estimates the 2030 goal would require an additional £11 billion, while the OBR puts the cost of the 2035 ambition at £35 billion. Defence spending is currently about 2.6 per cent of GDP, and the Government had previously planned for 2.7 per cent by 2030. Healey also plans to use capital reserves to cover a £4.7 billion shortfall in the Defence Investment Plan, a move the IFS director criticised.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.