The Conservative Party says it would cut funding for green energy projects and redirect the money into defence, arguing the UK needs to be ready for war.
Party leader Kemi Badenoch says a future Conservative government would move £17bn into the military, calling defence the government’s top priority.
Badenoch said: "The next Conservative government will move funding from [Energy Secretary] Ed Miliband's vanity Net Zero projects and use it to back our military to accelerate their war readiness."
The party says a new Sovereign Defence Fund, backed by private investment, could mobilise up to £50bn.
Under the plans, £6bn would be moved from research and development to the Ministry of Defence, and £11bn from the National Wealth Fund would be redirected from clean energy projects to defence and national resilience.
"Look at their record: their time in office starved our forces of funding, drove down morale and left Britain less safe. They did it before, and they'd do it again," a Conservative party spokesperson said.
Labour has dismissed the proposals as “fantasy figures”, saying the Conservatives left the armed forces underfunded during their time in power.
The UK government has pledged to increase defence spending to 2.5% of gross domestic product (GDP) by 2027 and 3.5% by 2035, but the Conservatives argue this is too slow and are calling for spending to reach 3% by the end of the decade.
Under the proposals, the National Wealth Fund, launched last year, would be renamed the National Defence and Resilience Bank.
Originally set up to support economic growth and clean energy, its remit was expanded in March to include investments linked to the UK’s defence and security.
Meanwhile, Chief of the Defence Staff Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Knighton said the pace of private investment in the defence industry was “painfully slow” and urged more young people to pursue careers in the sector.
Earlier this year, the government launched UK Defence Innovation, an organisation with an annual budget of at least £400m to invest in new technologies and boost jobs. However, a long-awaited defence investment plan, expected in the autumn, has been delayed.
AnewZ has premiered The Oligarch’s Design, a long-form investigative documentary marking the launch of AnewZ Investigations, the channel’s new edi...
The foreign ministers of Cambodia and Thailand have told Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi that they are willing to pursue a ceasefire, as tensions fla...
The Conservative Party says it would cut funding for green energy projects and redirect the money into defence, arguing the UK needs to be ready for w...
Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s first official visit to Japan marks a notable moment in relations between the two countries, reflecting a s...
An international scientific-practical congress marking the 90th anniversary of the Azerbaijan State Advanced Training Institute for Doctors named afte...
Mounting U.S.-China tensions are heightening concerns about miscalculation, with political distrust increasingly shaping how both sides respond to emerging crises.
Thailand has stopped fuel shipments passing through its border with Laos over fears they were being diverted to Cambodia, as fierce fighting between the two neighbours shows no sign of easing.
Hungary has strongly criticised NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte’s warning that Russia could be capable of attacking the alliance within five years, with Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó describing the remarks as irresponsible and dangerous.
Are Europe’s defence structures prepared to meet evolving threats from Russia? Recent remarks by NATO and intelligence officials have highlighted gaps that could shape European security over the next five years.
Ukraine has welcomed the European Union’s decision to provide €90 billion in support over the next two years, calling it a vital lifeline even as the bloc failed to reach agreement on using frozen Russian assets to finance the aid.
European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas has warned that attempts to reach a peace agreement in Ukraine are being undermined by Russia’s continued refusal to engage meaningfully in negotiations.
Petroleum products are being transported by rail from Azerbaijan to Armenia for the first time in decades. The move is hailed as a tangible breakthrough in efforts to normalise relations between the long-time rivals.
U.S. President Donald Trump delivered a wide-ranging address from the White House in which he sought to highlight what he described as his administration’s achievements while laying the groundwork for his plans for the year ahead and beyond, on Wednesday (18 December).
A rare pair of bright-green Nike “Grinch” sneakers worn and signed by the late NBA legend Kobe Bryant have gone on public display in Beverly Hills, ahead of an auction that could set a new record for sports memorabilia.
The foreign ministers of Cambodia and Thailand have told Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi that they are willing to pursue a ceasefire, as tensions flared along parts of the two countries’ shared border.
The European Union is facing mounting political pressure over its ability to keep Russian sovereign assets frozen, as internal divisions, leadership changes and war fatigue reshape decision-making across the bloc.
Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s first official visit to Japan marks a notable moment in relations between the two countries, reflecting a shared interest in deepening cooperation.
The long-running geopolitical tug-of-war over the world’s most popular short-form video application appears to have reached its finale, resolving a five-year saga that bridged two US presidencies and a brief nationwide service blackout.
Congressional Democrats have released dozens of new images from Jeffrey Epstein’s estate, increasing pressure on the United States Justice Department.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment