Defence spending is defended in Budget

A few days on from the National Security Strategy and Strategic Defence and Security Review, Chancellor George Osborne has reiterated that the UK will meet its NATO target of spending two per cent of national income on defence.

As part of the Autumn Statement and Spending Review, Osborne revealed that the Ministry of Defence’s budget will be increased by more than £5 billion by 2020-2021.

£1.9 billion will also be spent on cyber security over the next five years, including on a new centre to protect the UK against attacks. Counter terrorism spending will increase by 30 per cent, including providing 1,900 new intelligence staff, and the aid budget is set to rise to £16.3bn by the end of the Parliament.

Additionally, despite numerous reports leading up to the Statement, Osborne revealed that the Foreign Office budget is to be protected and that there will be no cuts to police funding, rejecting Andy Burnham's belief that the police force could live with cuts of 10 per cent.

Osborne stated: "The police protect us, so we will protect them."

Read the Spending Review and Autumn Statement speech

Read the National Security Strategy and Strategic Defence and Security Review