John Healey

John Healey

Labour — Rawmarsh and Conisbrough

Speaking in the House of Commons on 11 November 2024

Debate

Defence: 2.5% GDP Spending Commitment

Contribution

We will publish the financial figures for the CEA in due course and in the normal way. On the hon. Gentleman’s previous point, I am very conscious of what he and those who served in Afghanistan and Iraq faced. I am very conscious that at times during the last Labour Government, as with any Government, the kit and equipment was lacking. That is why we tried to replace the vehicles, using urgent operational requirements at the time. Although we inevitably fell short in some areas, we were spending 2.5% of GDP on defence in 2010, when we were last in government, and the strength of the full-time British Army was over 100,000 soldiers.

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