Delays to defence plan undermine UK credibility, MPs say

Key developments are emerging from the global stage. Delays to defence plan undermine UK credibility, MPs say13 minutes ago Share Save Add as preferred on GoogleOlivia IrelandPA MediaBritish Army soldiers on exercises in Finland with a droneDelays in publishing a report laying out government defence spending have undermined the UK's credibility with its allies, a parliamentary committee that scrutinises public spending says. The Defence Investment Plan (DIP) was supposed to be published in the autumn but is now due to be released ahead of a Nato summit early next month. The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) says the hold-up means procuring the latest equipment will be more expensive, "hindering the government's attempt to modernise the Armed Forces".

A Ministry of Defence (MoD) spokesman said the DIP would "fix the outdated, overcommitted and underfunded programme we inherited", adding: "We are working hard to finalise it. "The DIP will explain how new equipment and defence infrastructure will be funded over the coming decade and follows the wide-ranging Strategic Defence Review (SDR) published on 2 June 2025. Defence Secretary John Healey told the Commons on Monday that Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer was "determined to publish" it.

The Details

The chair of the PAC, Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown MP, said that from the committee's point of view, the nation had "now in fact gone years without a credible plan for UK military capability". "Those responsible may argue there are good reasons for the DIP's continuing absence, but our report makes clear that excuses to the effect of 'taking the time to get the details right' simply do not cut it. " The PAC report said the DIP's delay had been "due to the lack of a decision from the MoD as to which capabilities, infrastructure and people it requires to transform the Armed Forces to be warfighting-ready".

It said defence contractors were raising prices because of global instability, meaning delays to procurement could end up costing more. Delaying the release of the DIP also meant an "inability to equip the UK's Armed Forces for the modern battlefield" and provide a stronger deterrent, undermining the MoD's credibility with the UK's allies as well as the defence sector. In response, the MoD spokesman said that, since coming to power in July 2024, the government had signed more than 1,400 major defence contracts, adding it was providing "a generational increase in defence spending...

ensuring no return to the hollowed out armed forces of the past". The PAC report also highlighted specific concerns over existing defence spending, including ongoing issues with the Ajax armoured vehicle. In November 2025, the army had to pause its use of the Ajaxes after soldiers became unwell from the noise and vibration issues, with some vomiting after leaving the vehicle.

The PAC report found a total of 33 soldiers had been affected by the issues, with five still under medical review as of March.

The development has drawn wide international attention, with diplomatic circles watching closely.