Sunak suggests he won't 'shy away' from cuts to lift defence spending

Rishi Sunak has suggested he will not "shy away" from further public spending cuts to raise defence spending as he faced questions over how the policy would be funded.

- Pippa Crerar

He said the plan would not affect the government's ability to cut taxes and was the "right thing to do" in an increasingly dangerous world.

Sunak has committed to spending 2.5% of GDP on defence by 2030.

However, the government's numbers have faced scrutiny from economists who have warned they would lead to bigger spending cuts in other areas.

Asked at a press conference in Berlin whether his defence increase will mean tax rises and deep cuts, he said that was "not a fair characterisation".

"We have made a choice and I am not shying away from that choice," he said. "All governing is about prioritising. I have decided to prioritise defence because I think that is the right thing to do for our country."

Sunak said investment in the NHS and schools which along with international development are protected areas - was "not going to change".

He insisted the plan, which would cost £4.5bn a year by 2028-29, was fully funded and has already ruled out any increase in borrowing or debt to pay for it. Of the increase, £1.6bn will come from an increase in R&D funding for defence, although it was unclear which department would miss out as a result.