Keir Starmer accused of 'prioritising welfare over defence' as Labour's Defence Investment Plan remains unpublished

Sir Keir Starmer has been accused of prioritising a "bigger welfare system" over Britain's defences as the Government's investment plan remains unpublished.

Speaking to GB News, Shadow Defence Secretary James Cartlidge declared that the continued delay of the document speaks to the "chaos" at the heart of the Labour Government.

The Prime Minister is facing further pressure following the resignation of Defence Secretary John Healey just a short while ago.

In his letter, Mr Healey told Sir Keir that he has been "untenable" and the Treasury has been "unwilling" to "commit the resources that the nation needs to defend the country at this time of rising threats".

Discussing the lack of Defence Investment Plan on GB News, Mr Cartlidge said it is "extraordinary" that the plan has not been published today.

He said: "We had been expecting it today, and I must admit, if it was today, we'd have been offered a briefing in the department by now. Everyone would probably know it was coming.

"It looks to me like it isn't happening, which is quite extraordinary. What it all points to is chaos, because at the heart of this, Keir Starmer hasn't worked out how to pay for it because he hasn't prioritised it."

Mr Cartlidge accused Sir Keir of instead prioritising welfare: "He's prioritised a bigger welfare system. You can't fund welfare to the degree he is and also adequately fund the British armed forces. That's the bottom line."

Asked by host Stephen Dixon if the Conservatives can apply more pressure on the PM to increase defence spending, Mr Cartlidge expressed his "frustration" at the situation.

He told GB News: "I feel frustrated myself. I have nightmares that years from now, I'll be standing at the dispatch box with my Zimmer frame saying to Secretary of State, when is he going to publish a defence investment plan?

"I've been asking it for so long, I've asked it in every oral question for months. We do what we can.

"All we can do as opposition is what we did yesterday, I told an urgent question to the Speaker and he selected it."

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Urging the Government to "get a grip" and publish the plan, the Tory MP made clear: "What's shocking to me is the public now talk about the Defence Investment Plan, because they know how serious it is.

"We've got the threats that we have, the war in Ukraine, war in the Middle East. It's extraordinary. All this delay and dither, the Government really does need to get a grip."

Quizzed on Labour's net zero policy and Energy Secretary Ed Miliband pushing back against demands to find one per cent of savings within his department, Mr Cartlidge said it is simply "staggering".

He said: "It's absolutely staggering, the lack of understanding of the seriousness of the situation the country is in. The threat we face is right now.

"Those Russian ships, vessels, planes bothering us, that happens week in, week out. The war is happening now in Ukraine, the threat is today.

"So to be scrabbling around at this after all these months in Cabinet, a senior figure like that refusing to do their bit to help defend the country, I think is unacceptable."

The Shadow Defence Secretary concluded: "It shows the lack of grip that Starmer has. He's got to get a grip.

"He's got to cut the welfare budget and move billions into defence so that we can finally rearm at the scale and pace required."