Today’s defence-related news includes the Chancellor’s announcement during yesterday’s Budget that the MOD will receive an additional £1bn funding.
Budget announcement
During yesterday’s Budget, Chancellor Philip Hammond pledged £1 billion to the MOD over the next two years, designed to boost cyber capabilities and anti-submarine warfare capacity, and to maintain the pace of the Dreadnought programme.
The Times, Daily Express, Sun and Daily Mail all cover the story positively, reporting that the additional funding will help protect the UK against immediate threats. The Telegraph additionally reports on new funds to support veterans' mental health, and the extra £1 million pledged for WWI battlefield visits for school students.
The Financial Times references planned cuts that will no longer have to be made, while the news is also covered in the Daily Mirror, Guardian, Scotsman, Press and Journal and The Herald.
Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson said:
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.
Furthermore, it allows us to deliver our existing plans set out within the Strategic Defence Review 2015.
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