The prime minister confirms a reduction in civil service jobs will pay for the UKs' new commitment - but declines to say whether the NATO target should rise too.
Rishi Sunak has insisted his uplift in defence spending is 'fully funded' after Labour branded the announcement a pre-election 'gimmick'. The prime minister was asked by journalists whether he was not 'entirely squaring with people' over how the increase in defence spending by 2030 will be funded - and whether it would involve 'pain' for taxpayers.
'It's not right for our members to pay for a rise in defence spending with their jobs, so we'll fight these proposals tooth and nail, just as we fought them under Boris Johnson,' it said, adding: 'Cuts have consequences.' But Mr Sunak defended the plan, saying that since 2019 'we've seen a very significant rise that isn't sustainable or needed'.
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