Financial Times reports Chancellor John Healey will use his October budget to pause the pledge to raise defence spending to 3% of GDP by 2030 and defer difficult funding decisions for the armed forces. Healey had argued 3% by 2030 as a milestone toward NATO's 3.5% target by 2035; that aim is now uncertain. The budget will prioritise closing an almost £5bn defence equipment funding gap left by former prime minister Starmer, government sources said. Institute for Fiscal Studies researcher Bee Boil

Financial Times reports Chancellor John Healey will use his October budget to pause the pledge to raise defence spending to 3% of GDP by 2030 and defer difficult funding decisions for the armed forces. Healey had argued 3% by 2030 as a milestone toward NATO's 3.5% target by 2035; that aim is now uncertain. The budget will prioritise closing an almost £5bn defence equipment funding gap left by former prime minister Starmer, government sources said. Institute for Fiscal Studies researcher Bee Boileau estimates lifting to 3% by 2030 would require roughly an extra £10bn a year at current prices; reaching 3.5% would need about £25bn. Under current plans UK defence spending is projected at 2.7% of GDP by 2030.