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Wes Streeting, a Labour Party member and defence secretary, warned activists against opposing plans to increase defense spending at the Labour Party conference. He emphasized the need for greater investment in national security, highlighting that the UK currently spends only 2.7% of its GDP on defense, compared to NATO's target of 3.5% by 2035. Union leaders like Jo Grady from the University and College Union countered with a 'Wages not Weapons' campaign, advocating for public-sector pay rises instead of increased military spending.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-09-28,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Wes Streeting, a Labour MP, warned activists against opposing plans to boost UK defence spending. This comes as some union leaders, like Jo Grady of the University and College Union (UCU), are pushing for increased public-sector pay instead. The UCU promoted its 'Wages not Weapons' campaign at last month's Trades Union Congress conference. Despite this opposition, the UK must meet NATO’s target of spending 3.5% of GDP on defense by 2035, while currently it is only at 2.7%. Other countries like Poland and Germany have already increased their military expenditures to above 4% and pledged to reach 3.5% by 2030 respectively, in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Written for “UK Defence Spending Debate” on 2026-10-05,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
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Wes Streeting has warned Labour's hard-Left fringe against any attempt to oppose plans to increase defence spending.
asserted
Streeting → see → spending
A drive to block investment in the Armed Forces was gathering momentum yesterday, led by union leaders who expect the Government to fund a public-sector pay rise instead.
asserted
Government → block → rise
Jo Grady, general secretary of the University and College Union (UCU), called for a 'mass movement' in Britain to favour the factory floor over the battlefield.
asserted
Grady → call → battlefield
The UCU showcased a 'Wages not Weapons' campaign at last month's Trades Union Congress conference.
asserted
UCU → showcase → conference
This is despite the UK lagging behind many of its allies, who have hiked defence spending since Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
asserted
who → lag → Ukraine
While Poland has reached more than 4 per cent of GDP and Germany has vowed to boost its commitment to 3.5 per cent by 2030, Britain remains on 2.7 per cent.
asserted
Britain → reach → cent
T
he UK must reach 3.5 per cent by 2035 to meet NATO's deadline and the Government is expected to soon set out a pathway to reach this amount.
asserted
Government → reach → amount
In an effort to reinforce this plan, the Defence Secretary told Labour Party conference yesterday: 'We need to step up.
asserted
We → reinforce → conference
We need to spend more.
asserted
We → need → more
Wes Streeting has warned activists not to oppose a boost in defence spending as a drive to block investment in the Armed Forces was gathering momentum at the Labour Party conference yesterday
'
asserted
drive → warn → conference
Mr Streeting added: 'I have to say directly to some of our critics on the Left, you are not defending public services by attacking investment in our national defences.
asserted
you → add → defences
As a Labour defence secretary called Mr Healey [Denis Healey] once said, 'Once we cut defence expenditure to the extent where our security is imperilled, we have no houses, we have no hospitals, we have no schools.
asserted
we → call → schools
We have a heap of cinders'.'
That Mr Healey was speaking in 1969.
asserted
Healey → have → 1969
The current Chancellor, John Healey, resigned as Defence Secretary earlier this year over
Sir Keir Starmer's poor record on Armed Forces investment.
asserted
Chancellor → resign → investment
But Ms Grady said: 'We need to see the material lives of people fundamentally changed, and we need decent wages.'
asserted
we → say → wages
She claimed the 'dial has shifted' in favour of welfare over defence, adding: 'We're even having conversations now amongst ministers who even four or five months ago were saying the only way was extra defence expenditure.'
Elsewhere, former Labour candidate Faiza Shaheen even said the British would be 'proud' to abolish the Armed Forces, citing the example of Costa Rica in 1949.
asserted
British → claim → 1949
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