Sir Keir Starmer stated he disagrees with Lord George Robertson's accusation that the UK government shows corrosive complacency on defence spending. The former Nato chief claimed the UK lacks preparation for war and ministers avoid required investments. He warned against relying on expanding welfare budgets for defence.

During Prime Minister's Questions, Starmer expressed respect for Robertson, who led a strategic defence review. Starmer highlighted his decision last February to raise defence spending from 2.3% to 2.6% of GDP, funded by cuts to overseas aid. At the Nato summit last June, he pledged to reach 3.5%. Last November's budget allocated record defence funds.

Starmer described the strategic defence review as a 10-year national security plan. He noted the defence investment plan will implement it and will appear soon. The government plans £270 billion for defence over this parliament, with £5 billion more this year and annual increases.

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch questioned the delay in publishing the defence investment plan before parliament's end. She cited reports of £3.5 billion in Ministry of Defence cuts this year. Starmer replied that defence receives record amounts, the largest boost since the Cold War, biggest armed forces pay rise in over 20 years, and largest military housing investment in over 50 years.

Commons Defence Committee chair Tan Dhesi called Robertson's comments sobering and said delays risk damage to the defence industrial base. Labour MP Emma Lewell stated defence boosts should not reduce welfare for pensioners and disabled people. Defence minister Luke Pollard announced an £879 million contract for Apache helicopter maintenance, creating 1,200 jobs.

Pollard said the government added £5 billion to the defence budget this year to address prior underfunding. Conservative shadow defence minister Mark Francois asked for a publication date for the plan. Pollard replied it will appear when ready.