Defence: 2.5% GDP Spending Commitment Debate

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Department: Ministry of Defence

Defence: 2.5% GDP Spending Commitment

Helen Maguire Excerpts
Monday 11th November 2024

(2 days, 6 hours ago)

Commons Chamber
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Lindsay Hoyle Portrait Mr Speaker
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I call the Lib Dem spokesperson.

Helen Maguire Portrait Helen Maguire (Epsom and Ewell) (LD)
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We are deeply concerned about the impact of the US elections on Ukraine and Europe. President Trump is an unreliable partner and, within days of his election, US support to Ukraine is regrettably under question. Clearly the UK needs to urgently set out a path to spending 2.5% of GDP on defence. We need to lead in Europe. Does the Secretary of State agree that the previous Government’s legacy on our Army, which is the smallest since the Napoleonic era, is deeply regrettable? Will he commit to securing a UK-EU defence and security agreement, as was on the table while Theresa May was Prime Minister? Will the Government convene a summit on saving Ukraine, to begin the process of seizure of frozen Russian assets, so that the UK and our European allies can support Ukraine regardless of the path the US takes?