Andy Burnham rejects welfare cuts to fund UK defence spending increases

The short version

• Prime Minister Andy Burnham stated at Prime Minister's Questions that defence increases cannot come at the expense of social security.[BBC News]
• Burnham dismissed Conservative plans to save £4bn by reducing housing benefit to help finance defence.[BBC News]
• The government plans to outline a target date to reach 3% of GDP on defence spending this spring.[BBC News]
• Conservatives criticized the decision, arguing Burnham is prioritizing welfare costs over military security.[BBC News]

Key facts

• Andy Burnham stated that national security cannot come at the expense of social security during Prime Minister's Questions.[BBC News]
• Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch challenged Burnham to commit to spending 3% of GDP on defence by 2030 and detail how it would be financed.[BBC News]
• Burnham rejected an opposition proposal to fund defence spending by cutting £4bn from housing benefits.[BBC News]
• The prime minister pledged that a target date for achieving 3% defence spending would be announced in the spring.[BBC News]
• Department for Work and Pensions projections estimate benefit spending will increase to £408.6bn in 2030/31.[BBC News]

Sources

Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.

• National security can't come at expense of social security, Burnham saysBBC News - Top Stories