Budget Resolutions

Gerald Howarth Excerpts

Monday 13th March 2017 Commons Chamber

[Boris Johnson]

I would be obliged if the hon. Gentleman resumed his seat. I do not intend to give way to him again.

[Sir Gerald Howarth (Aldershot) (Con)]

Will my right hon. Friend give way to me?

[Boris Johnson]

I will.

[Sir Gerald Howarth]

I am grateful. May I say how much I support the Government’s commitment to the 2% minimum on defence spending? However, does my right hon. Friend agree that we are going to need every penny of it, given in particular that the Chinese—my right hon. Friend mentioned east of Suez—are seeking to colonise militarily a number of uninhabited atolls in the South China sea, which is destabilising the region? Given that we are signatories to the five power defence arrangements, does he agree that we need to take action on that, and therefore increase the defence budget and not keep it steady where it is?

[Boris Johnson]

I am delighted that my hon. Friend makes that point. He reminds me that it was the leader of the Labour party, the current Leader of the Opposition, who said that he did not think this country needed a defence policy at all. I think he said that we do not even need an Army, let alone any spending on the security and stability of the South China seas. I remind my hon. Friend that 25% of the world’s trade goes through the straits of Malacca, so it is more vital than ever that we have a truly global commitment.