Defence and Security Debate

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Department: Cabinet Office

Defence and Security

Derek Twigg Excerpts
Tuesday 25th February 2025

(1 month, 4 weeks ago)

Commons Chamber
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Derek Twigg Portrait Derek Twigg (Widnes and Halewood) (Lab)
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I warmly welcome the Prime Minister’s statement, and particularly his commitment to accelerate the increase in defence spending, although I fear that we may have to visit the 3% target before the next Parliament. It is very important that we have a whole-society approach to defence. Will he be bringing forward a strategy to make that happen, particularly around the great need to improve our reservist forces?

Keir Starmer Portrait The Prime Minister
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It does have to be a whole-society response, which is why I set that out in my statement in the House, and I am grateful to my hon. Friend for raising it. Of course it has to be a driver of industrial growth and our industrial strategy.