Responding to the prime minister’s pledge today to deliver on 5% NATO pledge Stop the War convenor Lindsey German said:
Just a few weeks ago the government pledged a rapid increase in ‘defence’ spending to 2.6% by 2027 and 3% of GDP in the next parliament in order to appease Donald Trump, taking the money from the welfare and overseas development budgets, consigning some of the poorest people in society to be even poorer.
As if that wasn’t grotesque enough, Starmer is now bowing down further to NATO’s demands by promising to deliver on its 5% new estimate, reaching at least 4.1% of GDP in 2027. Where does this end or is the sky the limit?
Given the eye-watering record profits being made by the arms manufacturers and their shareholders as a result of the endless conflicts perpetuated by these levels of increased military spending – paid for with our tax pounds and by slashing domestic spending – this latest announcement is even more disgraceful.
Contrary to Starmer’s claims, ever-increased defence spending does not make working people more secure at home. This isn’t about defending our borders. Security for working people is created by ensuring people have a roof over their heads, decent education and access to good healthcare, not by creating an ever more dangerous world through this drive to militarism.
Nor does it create the jobs, wages and growth that’s claimed, because we know that it actually generates less overall economic activity than spending on essential services and infrastructure.
The only beneficiaries of this latest announcement will be the warmongers and the arms companies. They want wars to continue. We must oppose them.