- Business and Trade Secretary Peter Kyle said that defence remains a government "priority" following John Healey's resignation, defending the administration's approach to increasing investment in defence services.
- Kyle stated that current defence spending stands at 2.6% of GDP, surpassing the 2.5% target set for this parliamentary term years ahead of schedule.
- The government is in the process of finalising its defence strategy for the next decade, which will be unveiled before the NATO summit in early July, amidst global instability and technological advancements.
- Kyle cautioned against "irresponsible" increases in defence spending, arguing that such an approach could negatively impact economic growth and be "fool's gold."
- He emphasised that the government's responsible strategy aims to drive economic growth, benefit British jobs and businesses, and build both economic and defence resilience, praising the Prime Minister's "steadfast" leadership on the matter.
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