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Andy Burnham vows John Healey's Budget will set out a path to 3% defence spending by 2030 on Wednesday

John Healey, who resigned as Chancellor in June demanding Britain reach 3% of GDP on defence by 2030, now says the timetable will wait for next year's spending review.
John Healey, who resigned as Chancellor in June demanding Britain reach 3% of GDP on defence by 2030, now says the timetable will wait for next year's spending review.

Chancellor John Healey is expected to route defence cash through the National Wealth Fund and British Business Bank in Wednesday's Budget, keeping it outside the fiscal rules. The Office for Budget Responsibility says hitting 3% would need an extra £17.3 billion in 2029-30. Healey had insisted the timetable would wait for next year's spending review. He quit as defence secretary over military funding earlier this year.

Babcock shares rose 2.6% and Rolls-Royce nearly 2% on news of the borrowing plan.

A More in Common poll found 57% back cutting benefits to fund defence, including 76% of Reform voters.

Labour now faces an investigation over its defence spending claims.

MoreThe TelegraphLabour faces investigation over defence spending claimsLBCStocks rally ahead of UK Budget and interest rate callsLondon South EastLONDON MARKET CLOSE: Stocks rally ahead of UK budget and rate callsLBCBurnham vows to increase defence spending to 3% of GDP by 2030 in Budget pledgeEvening StandardBudget will outline path to meet defence spending pledge by 2030, Burnham saysThe IndependentUK ‘set to miss’ heavily-reduced aid spending target of 0.3%The IndependentCut benefits to fund defence, say majority of Britons in new poll ahead of BudgetCity A.M.Rolls-Royce, Babcock shares jump on Healey’s defence borrowing planReutersUK to set out path to NATO target in Wednesday's budget, PM saysThe GuardianHas Healey’s military-style budget secrecy really played out so differently to past budgets?Daily MailChancellor urged to back business or face 'generation of stagnation'City A.M.Healey to ‘increase minimum wage by 3.9 per cent’
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