Tag: Elizabeth Truss

But a source familiar with the negotiations said there is no chance of the Treasury, faced with a promised rise in NHS spending and other demands on the budget, conceding any more cash to the Ministry of Defence. The Financial Times reported on Thursday that May, at a Downing Street meeting, had asked Williamson to justify the UK being a “tier-one” country. Despite denials from Downing Street, a source familiar with the meeting said on Thursday that May had questioned whether the UK needed all these capabilities. “We will continue to spend 2% of our GDP on defence. We will continue to contribute in a whole variety of ways across conventional, cyber and nuclear capabilities.” May hinted she was content with the status quo on defence spending. The MoD is still hoping to secure some more money in the next few weeks, and, failing that, in the autumn. However, the source said the best the MoD could hope for was a token rise in spending in autumn or early next year, though nothing close to the billions Williamson was seeking. While the Treasury is reported to be sympathetic to a rise for the military, it is concerned about the impact of pay rises across the public sector and looking for a compromise from Williamson. Stoltenberg, speaking in London, said he wanted the UK to maintain at least its current spending level on defence, 2.1% of GDP, just above the 2% Nato minimum. Faced with a £20bn funding shortfall over the next decade, the MoD claims it can make savings through efficiency.