In her Spring Statement last month, Rachel Reeves unveiled plans to increase core military spending to £62.2 billion for the 2025-26 financial year, an increase of £2.2 billion from what was already one of the highest global figures. This escalation lays the groundwork for Keir Starmer’s previous announcement that military expenditure will hit 2.5% of GDP by 2027-28, with some already saying that the future figure may need to reach 3.5%. However, this surge in military funding comes at the expense of substantial cuts to the foreign aid budget and domestic welfare programs, disproportionately affecting the most vulnerable in society.
Redirecting funds from welfare and aid programs to military spending will inevitably exacerbate existing social inequalities and globally will only increase instability. The Office for Budget Responsibility estimates that the welfare cuts at home could push an additional 250,000 individuals, including 50,000 children, into relative poverty by 2029-30, impacting over 3 million households. Such austerity measures undermine the social safety net, leaving marginalized communities to bear the brunt of fiscal policies that prioritise the military over human well-being.
It isn’t just the vulnerable at home who will suffer as a result of these policies. In 2023-24, the UK’s core military spending was approximately 3.5 times the size of the aid budget; by 2027-28, it is projected to be about ten times larger. This dramatic shift signifies a troubling departure from the UK’s commitment to international development and humanitarian assistance. When the Trump Administration announced their slashing of US AID Foreign Secretary David Lammy described it as a “big strategic mistake” – just weeks before supporting a similar policy in Cabinet.
The government’s obsession with ever-increasing military spending entails significant opportunity costs. Public services are already under strain, with record-high NHS waiting lists, deteriorating school infrastructure, and persistent child poverty. Removing the two-child benefit cap would cost a fraction of the upcoming increase in military spending, yet would change the lives of more than 500,000 children. Redirecting resources towards the military diverts much-needed investment away from these critical areas, hindering efforts to address pressing social issues and improve the quality of life for citizens.
Not only is there a social cost to increasing military spending, but historical precedents cast doubt on the effectiveness of such expenditure in achieving genuine security. Last year, it was revealed that the Ministry of Defence was facing a black hole of nearly £17bn, in what the House of Commons Public Accounts Committee called “a marked deterioration” in the financial situation. It is very likely that much of this new money will simply go towards covering spiralling costs of existing programmes including the replacement of the Trident nuclear weapons system.
Despite the broad political consensus in support of increasing military spending, what isn’t raised often enough in Parliament is the need for human security. A more holistic approach to national and global security emphasises peacebuilding over military dominance. Investing in conflict prevention, sustainable development, climate change mitigation, social programs, human rights, and humanitarian efforts can address the root causes of instability. Such investments not only foster global stability but also contribute to a more just and equitable society.
Call to Action
The current trajectory of increased military spending at the expense of social welfare and international aid is both morally and strategically flawed. Last week saw the start of the Global Days of Action on Military Spending – with campaigners across the UK and around the world coming together to challenge spiralling military spending. The Global Campaign on Military Spending UK is leading these efforts in the UK and has a range of activities planned. Together we can put forward the case for an alternative future and advocate for “Welfare not Warfare!”
