Defence Investment Plan

Viscount Stansgate Excerpts

Wednesday 1st July 2026 Lords Chamber

[Lord Teverson (LD)]

My Lords—

[Viscount Stansgate (Lab)]

My Lords—

[Lord in Waiting/Government Whip (Lord Katz) (Lab)]

My Lords, I think it is time to hear from the Labour Benches and then we can hear from the Liberal Democrats.

--- Later in debate ---

[Viscount Stansgate (Lab)]

My Lords, I welcome the publication of the defence investment plan and the recognition in it that science, technology and innovation are going to play a very big part in the future. Does my noble friend agree that it is not just a financial challenge that faces the defence investment plan; there is also a credibility challenge? We are going to have to explain to the public more effectively than perhaps we have been able to do so far exactly why we need a funding plan to reach 3% of GDP by 2030 and 3.5% by 2035.

[Lord Coaker (Lab)]

Indeed, as I said to the noble Baroness, of course we need a conversation to more fully and carefully explain to the public why we need to increase our expenditure on defence and security and, alongside that, to help them to understand why that might mean changed priorities for budgets within the sort of priorities that people would have. Whether that means less spending on this area or that area of government, I think we would all agree that the increase for defence and security is essential, and there will be difficult decisions ahead. As part of resolving that, we need to talk openly to the British people.