Streeting signals Labour will finally get serious about defence spending

Published: 22:59, 21 July 2026 | Updated: 22:59, 21 July 2026 Wes Streeting has indicated defence spending will rise amid a backlash from the former head of the Army at his appointment as Secretary of State. The new Defence Secretary said Prime Minister Andy Burnham's appointment of John Healey as Chancellor proved the Armed Forces have a 'firm friend' in the Treasury. Mr Streeting hoped his maiden speech yesterday would assuage those who doubt Mr Burnham's government is committed to security. Speaking at London's Wellington Barracks, Mr Streeting suggested the PM will prove that commitment with cash. At a ceremony to mark Canada joining a UK-led international alliance to build an £8.6 billion stealth jet, he said Mr Burnham's commitment 'is clear and will be even more clear in the coming months'. Mr Healey may well be eager to ensure the Ministry of Defence is funded properly.  However, his hopes of selling war bonds – where holders receive interest payments until they are eventually reimbursed – to raise money have been dashed by the Prime Minister. The new Defence Secretary Wes Streeting (pictured) said Prime Minister Andy Burnham's appointment of John Healey as Chancellor proved the Armed Forces have a 'firm friend' in the Treasury. Mr Healey, who resigned as Keir Starmer's defence secretary over the former PM's military spending plans, was appointed as Chancellor by Prime Minister Andy Burnham on Monday  On Tuesday, Mr Burnham's spokesman made clear 'war bonds are not something we're looking at'. No 10 also declined to endorse Mr Healey's plea, issued when he left government, for the UK to increase defence spending to 3 per cent of GDP by 2030. There was a strong message in Mr Streeting's speech, seemingly aimed at reluctant Labour MPs, about the importance of defence spending. In a blow to those backbenchers determined to protect Labour's record spending levels on the welfare state, Mr Streeting added: 'Hope is built on strength. There is no social justice without national security'. Former head of the Army, Lord Dannatt, said he was 'very disappointed' by Mr Streeting's appointment as he knows 'pretty much the square root of nothing about defence'. Mr Streeting's encouraging words for the UK's Armed Forces came after it emerged that a Russian warship launched a live firing exercise off the coast of Devon. Just 46 miles from Plymouth, the Kremlin frigate Neustrashimy practised launching artillery shells on Monday. The Daily Mail's Don't Leave Britain Defenceless campaign has been pushing Labour to find more money for the Armed Forces and the security of the nation.