Prime Minister Andy Burnham has signalled he is unwilling to cut social security to fund increases in the military budget, telling the House of Commons he refuses "to choose between the two".
Speaking during a parliamentary session on Tuesday, Burnham addressed his government's spending plans, following seven weeks in Downing Street during which he had not fully detailed his approach to welfare and national security.
The Prime Minister committed to an alternative Nato spending goal with a deadline of 2035. The stance contrasts with the position of the Conservative Party, which had produced a costed plan aiming to increase defence spending to 3 per cent of gross domestic product by 2030, funded primarily through welfare adjustments.
Burnham, a Labour politician who previously served as Mayor of Greater Manchester, took office in July following the general election. His government is facing decisions on managing the UK budget while balancing the demands of public services and international obligations.
The debate over military funding comes as Nato members face sustained pressure to bolster their defence capabilities, with politicians frequently citing the threat posed by Russia. Nato guidelines ask member states to spend a minimum of 2 per cent of their GDP on defence, a target the UK has historically met.
Social security remains the largest single area of UK government expenditure, encompassing state pensions, disability benefits, and income support. Critics of the current system argue the benefits bill has grown too large and risks creating long-term economic dependence.
Air traffic disruption
Separately, the Burnham administration has given a vote of confidence to the head of the UK air traffic control service, despite a second consecutive day of travel disruption affecting tens of thousands of airline passengers.
Martin Rolfe, the chief executive of National Air Traffic Services (NATS), has avoided dismissal over the ongoing crisis. Ministers have instead issued a reprimand, giving Rolfe strict instructions to resolve the airspace issues as quickly as possible.
NATS is the main air navigation service provider in the United Kingdom, responsible for managing the flow of commercial aircraft through UK airspace.
Rolfe has overall responsibility for the air traffic control system. He was previously in charge three years ago, when an August Bank Holiday computer failure forced the closure of the country's entire airspace, causing severe disruption for holidaymakers.
The government's decision to retain the NATS chief executive has prompted broader criticism regarding accountability for public service failures. The situation has drawn comparisons to the Post Office Horizon IT scandal, during which former chief executive Paula Vennells remained in her post for several years while subpostmasters were wrongly prosecuted for financial shortfalls caused by faulty software.
