Philip Hammond today confirmed an extra £1billion for the military after Tory anger erupted over cuts to Britain’s Armed Forces.
Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson has been in a long-running battle with the Treasury for more cash for Britain’s Armed Forces.
And dozens of Tory MPs had issued dark warnings that they could rebel against today’s Budget unless extra funding was found.
Mr Hammond told the Commons today that the extra cash will boost cyber capabilities and anti-submarine warfare capacity and maintain the pace of the Dreadnought programme.
The clamour for more cash for the Ministry of Defence came after a damning report exposed a £20bn blackhole in the department’s finances over the next decade.
Mr Hammond has come under to find the extra money after a major report by the National Audit Office (NAO) warned of the huge shortfall in the MoD’s funding plan.
In a swipe at Labour, Mr Hammond told the Commons today: ‘On this side of the House we are proud of our Armed Forces.’
Philip Hammond (pictured today with his famous red box ahead of this year’s Budget) came under massive pressure to find the extra money for defence maid fury from Tory backbenchers
Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson (pictured yesterday talking to female troops in Salisbury last week) has been in a long-running battle with the Treasury for more cash for Britain’s Armed Forces
Mr Williamson welcomed the spending boost, saying: ‘The extra £1 billion for defence on top of the £800 million increase this summer represents a substantial financial boost and reaffirms our commitment to protecting national security.
‘Not only will this funding ensure we continue to have world-leading armed forces but will also allow defence to modernise our critical assets, such as our offensive cyber capabilities, anti-submarine warfare and our nuclear deterrent.
Hammond unveils extra £160million to fight terror – the equivalent of 1,000 officers
An extra £160million is to be ploughed into anti-terror policing after today’s budget
An extra £160million is to be ploughed into helping Britain’s police fight the growing threat of terrorism.
It emerged last week that Scotland Yard and the security services are running a record high of more than 700 live investigations into suspected terrorists.
Chancellor Philip Hammond today unveiled a new pot of money to make sure authorities can keep pace with the spiralling problem.
The extra money announced today is said to be the equivalent of 1,000 extra officers.
The new fund is being pushed as a signal that ‘austerity’ policies are finished and the government is again investing in public services.
‘Furthermore, it allows us to deliver our existing plans set out within the Strategic Defence Review 2015.’
The report, published in January, said the MoD’s spending plan ‘is not affordable’ and ‘urgent action’ must be taken to plug the gaping hole in the finances.
Mr Hammond also announced another £160million is to be ploughed into helping Britain’s police fight the growing threat of terrorism.
It emerged last week that Scotland Yard and the security services are running a record high of more than 700 live investigations into suspected terrorists.
Chancellor Philip Hammond today unveiled a new pot of money to make sure authorities can keep pace with the spiralling problem.
Sir Amyas Morse, the head of the NAO, warned of the perilous state of the military’s finances in January. He said: ‘The department’s equipment plan is not affordable.
‘At present the affordability gap ranges from a minimum of £4.9bn to £20.8bn if financial risks materialise and ambitious savings are not achieved.’
Meg Hillier, the chair of the public accounts committee, said: ‘The NAO has found that the Ministry of Defence simply doesn’t have enough money to buy all the equipment it says it needs and is facing a possible affordability gap of nearly £21bn.
‘Until the MoD comes up with a realistic plan for funding new equipment, the MoD is bound to end up scrapping or delaying projects haphazardly. This is not a sensible way of looking after our national defence.’
A number of leading military figures have warned that Britain is at risk of losing its status as one of the world’s leading military powers unless more money is pumped into the forces.
It comes at a time when Britain is facing a growing threat from rogue states who are flexing their muscles internationally.
Philip Hammond (pictured last night putting the finishing touches to his Budget)was warned that dozens of Tory MPs were ready to revolt unless she found extra money for Britain’s over-stretched military
Vladimir Putin’s Russia was behind the Salisbury poison attack earlier this year, and is launching a wave of cyber attacks which pose a fresh threat to the country.
The United States has also piled pressure on Britain – its closest militarily ally – to pump more money into the service.
US Defence Secretary James Mattis in June warned that Washington is concerned the UK’s military power and diplomatic influence is ‘at risk of erosion’.
In the two-page letter, Mr Mattis said ‘the credibility of the UK’s armed forces’ had been crucial in securing its place on the world stage.
But he added: ‘I am concerned that your ability to continue to provide this critical military foundation for diplomatic success is at risk of erosion, while together we face a world awash with change.’