Tory MPs vent their fury after the Treasury confirms there will be no boost for ... trends now
Despairing Conservative MPs opened fire last night after the Treasury confirmed there will be no increase in defence spending before the General Election.
Chancellor Jeremy Hunt's refusal to commit to a cash boost, despite just yesterday talking up the need for more defence spending, could mean the Tories face an even tougher battle at the ballot box.
The attack was led by three former Defence Ministers; James Heappey, Mark Francois and Tobias Ellwood.
Mr Heappey, who has repeatedly called for defence spending to rise to 2.5 per cent of GDP, had submitted a written parliamentary question asking when an increase would happen.
The Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Laura Trott, responded on Mr Hunt's behalf saying the 'pathway' to 2.5 per cent 'will be set out at the next Spending Review'.
Chancellor Jeremy Hunt 's refusal to commit to a cash boost, despite just yesterday talking up the need for more defence spending, could mean the Tories face an even tougher battle at the ballot box
As no government Spending Review is due to take place this year, her answer confirmed any hike will have to wait until the next parliament.
She also told Mr Heappey the Government had 'consistently prioritised' defence, including giving his former department the largest investment uplift since the Cold War.
Ms Trott's response coincided with an interview with Mr Hunt in which he pledged, yet again, to boost defence spending when it is affordable to do so.
But furious former defence ministers have grown weary of the Chancellor's rhetoric, in particular as recent Mail polling shows voters support higher spending on the Armed Forces.
This paper's 'Don't Leave Britain Defenceless' campaign, which has called for an immediate rise to 2.5 per cent of GDP - an extra £9 billion this year in real terms, has been backed by former defence secretaries, defence ministers, former
