John Healey vows to reverse 'decades' of military cuts with Labour's 'record uplift' in defence spending

Healey claimed: "This review is the first for a generation that doesn't look to hollow out our armed forces further. Instead, it looks to build out the forces, grow the forces and grow jobs."

He also confirmed the Government will "reverse the long-term decline" in military personnel numbers.

Reflecting on the defence review, announced by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer on Monday, Healey said the Government is committed to record defence spending increases, with plans to reach 2.5 per cent of GDP on defence within two years.

"That's a level we've not spent in this country for 15 years, and it's part of a record uplift in defence spending, the largest since the end of the Cold War," he told GB News.

Healey claimed the review is enabling him to "get on as Defence Secretary by putting into action some of the recommendations."

The Defence Secretary also announced a £1.5billion investment during this parliament to address what he described as "the scandal of military family homes that are unfit to live in".

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The funding represents a major commitment to improving accommodation standards for service personnel and their families.

"I've been able to announce as well, because of the new investment we're putting into defence, we'll put £1.5billion in this parliament to dealing with the scandal of military family homes that are unfit to live in," Healey said.

Healey revealed major investments in cutting-edge military technology as part of the review, including £1billion for laser weapons on ships during this parliament.

"I've announced today that in this parliament we'll put a billion pounds into putting the first laser weapons onto our ships, the first European nation in Nato that will have laser weapons able to shoot down at the speed of light, at the cost of a tenner a shot," he said.

The Labour Government will also double drone investment to £4billion in this parliament, based on lessons from Ukraine.

"Lessons from Ukraine tell us with more people being killed by drones than traditional artillery," Healey explained.

He emphasised that nations combining new technology and AI autonomy with traditional military hardware gain battlefield advantage, stating his determination that "Britain will be at the innovating edge of Nato in the years to come."

The Government is addressing a recruitment and retention crisis that has persisted for 15 years, with "many more leaving than joining the forces".

Healey outlined measures to reverse this trend, including removing "red tape and rules that prevent people from being able to join the forces when they've got a lot to offer".