Boris Johnson at a thanksgiving ceremony marking 80th anniversary of VE Day (Image: Getty)
Boris Johnson has warned that Labour’s “feeble” spending on defence leaves Britain at the mercy of Russia. The former Prime Minister said that Rachel Reeves’s claims that defence spending would rise to 2.6% of GDP by 2027 had left him “very puzzled”.
He suggested the Chancellor’s reluctance to further boost the sector suggested she did not view it as a priority. Mr Johnson said: "This is feeble. They [Labour] have wasted a big opportunity. My view is that this Government is completely failing to show the leadership that is needed to defend Britain and defend Europe.
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READ MORE: Rachel Reeves under fire for 'insufficient' defence funding
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“Labour are congenitally hostile to defence spending. Their grass roots are still basically Corbynistas who think Russia is a great thing. Those views are still highly influential in Labour.”
Ms Reeves on Wednesday said defence spending would rise to 2.6% of GDP by April 2027 but failed to confirm whether it would climb higher amid demands by Nato.
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Mr Johnson, who was Prime Minister when Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in Feb 2022, has remained close with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky since leaving No10 Downing Street.
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Speaking to the Telegraph, he said: “What’s happened to the boots on the ground initiative?
“As with Ukraine, the way to peace is through strength. If you talk to people in Ukraine or the US, they will say leadership on protecting Ukraine is now being offered by Germany and France.”
Mr Johnson also said the Chancellor’s increase in the welfare budget was “out of control” and that such sums should be invested in defence instead.
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