UK’s Healey says government will fill defense plan gap by ‘reprioritizing’

LONDON — Finance minister John Healey said on Wednesday “reprioritization” in other departments would fill a £4.7 billion ($6.3 billion) gap in Britain’s Defence Investment Plan, a blueprint government hopes shows its NATO commitment.

In his first budget, Healey said he would also adopt this approach of “looking hard at public spending” to set out the details of how Britain will meet the NATO commitment of spending 3.5% of GDP on defense by 2035, and mark a target date for 3% in 2030.

“In today’s budget, I am fully funding the Defence Investment Plan, including through capital reprioritization across Whitehall. This honors the commitment made both by me – and by the prime minister,” he told parliament, referring to a part of London home to most government departments.

Healey, Prime Minister Andy Burnham and Defense Minister Wes Streeting are under pressure to increase investment more quickly.

Confirming that detailed plans for reaching the 3% and 3.5% goals will be set out in a spending review planned next year, Healey said he was also “determined to use more innovative financing, alongside the private sector and our international allies.”

That delay in plotting a clear pathway to 3.5% will heighten calls by the main opposition Conservatives, who have demanded Healey’s resignation if he failed to set out a credible plan at the budget.

Healey resigned as defense minister under Keir Starmer in June over what Healey viewed as inadequate spending on defense, specifically over the former prime minister’s unwillingness or inability to find funds to reach the 3% goal by 2030.