Andy Burnham has been urged to cut £5 billion in immigration-related grants to allocate more funds to the military amid concerns over the sufficiency of defence spending in the upcoming Defence Investment Plan. The former Greater Manchester mayor and potential next prime minister has yet to specify how he would address what some officials suggest is a shortfall in the planned defence budget, which reportedly falls several billion pounds short of the amount requested by military leaders.
Campaign group Migration Watch UK has identified what it describes as an immediate source of savings—financial support extended to immigrants under Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). These grants, which provide access to taxpayer-funded public services for certain migrants, including those who do not meet minimum income or English language requirements and are not selected for economic contribution, were awarded to over 34,000 recent arrivals last year alone.
Alp Mehmet, chairman of Migration Watch UK, claims that halting such payments to new Article 8 migrants arriving in 2025 could save approximately £5 billion, funds that he says could be redirected toward upgrading military capabilities. Mehmet called on Burnham to be transparent with the public, stating that this measure alone could secure critical investment in the Armed Forces.
Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp echoed concerns over the current immigration system, criticizing what he described as “vexatious legal challenges” to asylum claims that prolong the process and increase costs for taxpayers. Philp asserted that simply amending Article 8 provisions would be insufficient and called for the United Kingdom to fully withdraw from the European Convention on Human Rights to regain control over immigration judicial decisions.
Despite these calls for reform, sources close to Burnham have suggested that he considers the Defence Investment Plan finalized and have refrained from comment when asked about potential funding adjustments. The controversy arises as outgoing Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer announced defence spending measures aimed at enhancing the operational readiness of British Armed Forces ahead of his expected departure from office.
The debate highlights ongoing tensions between immigration policies and defence budget priorities, with government officials and campaigners divided on the best approach to balancing social spending against security needs.