Tory ministers slam Budget over defence

They snub Sunak and Hunt to call for an increase in spending 'now'

- MIKEY SMITH

TWO ministers have dealt a blow to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's authority by urging the Chancellor to raise defence spending "now".

Ministers are supposed to hold a united front on Government policy.

But Jeremy Hunt's vague Budget pledge to increase defence spending from 2% to 2.5% of national income "as soon as economic conditions allow" infuriated Security Minister Tom Tugendhat a former intelligence officer in Iraq and Foreign Office Minister Anne-Marie Trevelyan.