John Healey finally committed to hit 3 per cent of spending on defence by 2030, though he did not explain how he plans to achieve it.
During Wednesday's Budget, the Chancellor verified that he will completely finance the £4.7 billion required for the Defence Investment Plan.
He indicated that specifics will emerge during the Spending Review anticipated next autumn, which will necessitate reductions in alternative sectors.
Addressing members of parliament, Mr Healey stated, “I am fully funding the Defence Investment Plan, including through capital reprioritisation across Whitehall.”
He added, “This honours the commitment made both by me, and by the Prime Minister. As we look ahead to the Spending Review, we start from a position of strength, with spending at that higher base.”
Furthermore, he noted, “There will be choices we must make about our priorities, as we have shown we can, and efficiencies we must deliver.”
Mr Healey has experienced intense pressure regarding his financial commitments to military funding, facing accusations of hypocrisy if he fails to provide the money.
Earlier this summer, he quit as Defence Secretary over Sir Keir Starmer's refusal to boost military budgets.
At that time, he urged military spending to climb to 3 per cent of GDP by the end of the decade, moving up from the current level of approximately 2.7 per cent.
Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch attacked the Chancellor, arguing that he avoided the difficult choices required.
She called for Mr Healey to step down because he omitted any explanation of how he will reach his own goal.
“Today is the day that we should have got the plan,” Ms Badenoch stated.
“Now, he is the man who is increasing risk to personnel on operations. He is the man who is making our country less safe.”
She continued, “He has failed his own test. This is on him and no one will ever forget. If he had any decency, he would resign again today.”
“What he's done is he's given himself a bit of breathing space, until next year. Instead, what we have is a plan to have a plan. I bet Putin's really scared now.”
She also criticized Labour politicians, saying, “They do not understand that if Russia launches an attack on NATO in the next three years, as the government's own intelligence suggests, we will be at war without the means to properly defend ourselves.”
Ms Badenoch asked, “Look at them. If war comes, do we want this lot running the country?”
She added, “People so unserious that they don't understand that you can't have social security without national security. Because if you cannot defend your country, there will be nothing left to defend.”
This announcement follows remarks from Volodymyr Zelensky, who used an interview with The Sun prior to the Budget to caution Mr Healey against postponing action.
The President of Ukraine remarked, “Can the United Kingdom trust Russia or not? If not, defence needs to be 100 per cent the priority.”
He added, “My advice to John is don't delay. Sorry John, but it's important to be direct.”
Upon resigning last summer, Mr Healey wrote to Sir Keir, stating, “You have been unable, and the Treasury has been unwilling, to commit the resources that the nation needs to defend the country at this time of rising threats.”
