It’s outrageous that UK spends more on sickness benefits than defence… in dangerous times we must get priorities right
Share:
IN a deeply embarrassing coincidence, on the day Donald Trump – with his calls for greater defence spending – was sworn in as US President, a new report reveals that we spend 20 per cent more on health-related state benefits than on defence. How outrageous is that? Where are Britain’s priorities?.
![[Royal Marine in snowy Norway during Arctic warfare training.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/2024-armed-forces-minster-james-876087285.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
With all due respect for those who are genuinely unable to work, it seems extraordinary that we spend £64.7billion on health-related benefits, according to the House of Lords Economic Affairs Committee report, while in the 2023/24 financial year, we spent £53.9billion on defence.
![[Vladimir Putin holding a finger to his lips.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/2022-treason-cases-rare-russia-916914531.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
Both the Conservative and Labour governments must share the blame for this, but it is down to Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves to sort this out. Without adequate military capability, the entire nation’s health and security will be in jeopardy. Even a rapid glance around the world shows that we are living in very dangerous times — think Taiwan/China, the Middle East and Ukraine.
![[Lord George Robertson at a service in Westminster Abbey.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/embargoed-publication-uk-newspapers-24-848731269.jpg?strip=all&w=633)
The days of taking peace dividends after the Cold War are well over — and the case to increase defence spending is blindingly obvious. We need stronger Armed Forces to fight and win a war if we are forced into those circumstances — but, better still, we need highly capable Armed Forces to deter war as part of a strong Nato, with or without the US.
![[General Sir Richard Dannatt in military uniform.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/2009-general-sir-richard-outspoken-4320542.jpg?strip=all&w=624)
We cannot afford to sit back and hope Uncle Sam will bail us out. The 47th President is too unpredictable for that. One day, Donald Trump criticises the European members of Nato, the next he is calling on all Western governments to spend five per cent of their total public expenditure budgets on defence.
