We've increased defence spending from 2.3% to 2.6% in 2027. That's spending 270 billion pounds over this Parliament.

NATO-qualifying UK defence spending was 2.3% of GDP in 2024-25, and the Government has committed to 2.5% by 2027 (2.6% once intelligence and security spending is included in the definition). The £270 billion figure matches the total defence budget over the Spending Review period set out in the June 2026 Defence Investment Plan. The 2.3%-to-2.6% comparison mixes a headline (2.3%) with a broadened definition (2.6%).

▸ House of Commons Library — UK to spend 2.5% of GDP on defence by 2027 ▸ GOV.UK — PM speech announcing the Defence Investment Plan: 30 June 2026

Checked Wed 1 Jul, 10:00 · Broadcast: PMQs: Prime Minister's Questions - 10 June 2026

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More fact-checks of “PMQs: Prime Minister's Questions - 10 June 2026”

True · When they [the Conservatives] came into power defence spending was 2.5%, and they took it down to 2.3%.

True · We've already signed 1,400 major defence contracts. 94% of those, Mr. Speaker, are with British businesses.

True · They cut the army from 100,000 down to 72,000.

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