Ex-Defence Secretary Welcomes Extra UK Funding but Calls for Plan to Reach 3.5 % of GDP by 2035

John Healey spoke in Parliament on 30 June 2026 on Labour’s Defence Investment Plan, GB News reported. He had resigned as Defence Secretary weeks earlier in protest over defence funding levels. Healey welcomed additional money the Treasury had added in the preceding weeks.

He said the step built on the record increase in defence investment made by the Labour government since the election. He stated that threats are still growing and demands on defence are still rising. The plan would bring national spending to 2.7 per cent of GDP on defence in 2030, the date Nato now warns could see a Russian attack.

Healey called for agreement that more needs to be done in the months ahead to develop a clear, credible funding plan that will hit 3 per cent and meet the Nato commitment to 3.5 per cent by 2035.