Minister suggests tax rise being considered to fund increased defence spending

Cabinet Office minister Anna Turley has declined to rule out a tax rise to fund increased defence spending.

Asked about a report claiming that the Chancellor is considering a tax rise to fund defence, she told GB News: “The defence review and spending plan is going to be published imminently in the next few days, I understand. So we’ll see there our commitment that we have agreed to raise defence spending to meet our NATO commitments, and that is going to happen. Those discussions are taking place, of course, how that’s to be paid for.

“We are in a situation where the world is extremely insecure. It’s the most volatile that it’s been for decades, and it’s absolutely vital that we get this right. We have put more money into defence spending since the Cold War under this government.

“We’ve taken it extremely seriously. We’ve got to make sure that we look at every means possible to protect the country, to keep our citizens safe, and the Defence Spending Review will set that out shortly.”

On whether welfare spending ought to be cut to pay for it, she said: “We’ve been very clear that we are making sure we’re determined to get, particularly young people, back into work and reduce the numbers of people who are unemployed.

“But actually, when you look at the welfare bill in its entirety, a huge amount of that is going on things like public pensions, on housing. Of course, we need to look at every aspect of government spending, but there are very difficult decisions to be made across the board in every department, and I know the Chancellor is having those conversations right now with colleagues around the table.”

She also appeared to rule out tightening security on the border with the Republic of Ireland: “This is a long-standing agreement of over 100 years, and it’s right that people between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland have the right to free travel.

“That is their negotiation, that is their agreement, and of course, we, as the British government, are working, the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland is working with the Irish government to make sure that we prevent this from being exploited.

“We’ve invested a huge amount already and secured an agreement for more data to be shared, but it’s right that we look at absolutely everything to make sure that nobody can exploit a situation like this to come into this country when they have no right to be here.”