James Cartlidge

James Cartlidge

Conservative — South Suffolk

Speaking in the House of Commons on 23 June 2026

Debate

Defence Spending and Readiness

Contribution

I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman because, to be fair, I have always said that we do need to work together in the national interest. I have said repeatedly that spending on defence fell under successive Governments since the fall of the Berlin wall. That must be blindingly obvious. There are decisions that Labour made, that we made and that the Lib Dems made us make in the coalition—for example, about the nuclear submarines—so everyone has some culpability in this record.

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