Robert Jenrick wants a major funding boost for Britain's armed forces (Image: Getty)
Money should be diverted from the foreign aid budget to invest in Britain’s Armed Forces, according to Conservative leadership contender Robert Jenrick.
He wants to boost defence spending to “at least” 3% of GDP.
Warning of international threats, he said: “We live in an increasingly dangerous world with rising authoritarian powers, whether that be Russia, China or Iran. The first step is that we have to increase spending on our armed forces.
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“I have committed unequivocally to increasing defence spend to at least three per cent of GDP and – because I don’t want to increase our taxes or the size of the state – to take that money from our bloated aid budget.
"The best thing we can do to protect the interests of the British people would be to invest in our armed forces and the brave men and women who serve us rather than spending money on international aid in parts of the world that are often richer than parts of our own country.
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Mr Jenrick welcomed the killing of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar last week by Israeli forces in Gaza.
He said: “The death of Sinwar is a good moment for the world. He was an evil terrorist who masterminded the murder of 1,200 innocent people and a roadblock to peace in Gaza.
“So, it is good news he is dead. I want to see peace in the Middle East and people in Gaza, Israel and the West Bank living together in peace once more, but we must stand with Israel in its battle against terrorists like Hamas and Hezbollah.”