Witney and West Oxfordshire MP, Robert Courts has praised the Government for its decision to commit 2.5% of GDP to spending on defence.
This Conservative Government has taken action to increase defence spending to a record £50 billion a year – including an uplift of £24 billion, the largest single investment in defence since the end of the Cold War totaling an extra £75 billion in spending over the next six years.
Recognising the growing global threats to our rules-based order and the deteriorating global security environment, Robert has, since first elected and as the Member of Parliament representing RAF Brize Norton – the UK’s largest Royal Air Force Base – called for much more spending and attention to be given to our armed forces and defence capabilities.
As Chairman of the House of Commons Defence Select Committee, Robert called for the Government to take a hard look at their defence strategy and where it was heading. Robert argued for the Government to accept that they are going to have to spend much more on our armed forces – both on equipment but above all on our people.
Alongside this, Robert has been working hard to lead the campaign not just for better maintenance but for a higher standard of service family accommodation, to ensure our brave service personnel and their families are properly looked after. As Defence Chair, Robert launched a review into service accommodation. Robert was therefore pleased that the Government is committing to deepen their investment in family accommodation with over £4 billion earmarked for upgrading accommodation as well as to build new living quarters for our personnel over the next 10 years.
These announcements together mark the UK leading the way within Europe, setting a new standard amongst other major NATO countries. It is this Government’s hope that 2.5% of GDP spending on defence should become the new benchmark for its NATO partners. This would increase our allied defence spending by over £140 billion. Providing security for the UK that far outstrips anything we could achieve alone.
Commenting, Robert said: “We live in a more dangerous world than any time in recent memory.
“This very welcome uplift –the biggest in a generation – provides our armed forces & industry partners with the boost they needed, and I have long called for, adding £24 billion to the military budget over the next six years.
“In every role I’ve held, from Aviation & Maritime Minister to Chair of the Defence Select Committee - and in particular as the MP for Witney, representing RAF Brize Norton, I have always made the case for more investment in defence. Whilst there’s much more work to do – and I’ll continue to fight for the improvements to procurements, conditions and systems that we need – this is a huge step forward for our Armed Forces in capability, resilience, for our people, and for the industrial capacity that underpins them.”
