Labour Defence Secretary Wes Streeting has cautioned the party’s left-wing faction against opposing plans to increase defence spending, emphasizing the importance of investment in national security. His remarks came amid a growing campaign led by union leaders who advocate prioritizing public-sector pay rises over military expenditure.

The pushback is notably driven by Jo Grady, general secretary of the University and College Union (UCU), who has called for a “mass movement” in the UK that prioritizes workers and public services rather than defence. The UCU recently promoted its “Wages not Weapons” campaign at the Trades Union Congress conference, underscoring the tension within Labour over the direction of public spending.

The UK currently allocates 2.7 percent of its gross domestic product (GDP) to defence, a figure that remains below some NATO allies. In response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, countries such as Poland have already increased their defence budgets to more than 4 percent of GDP, while Germany has committed to reaching 3.5 percent by 2030. The UK government is expected to outline a plan to raise defence spending to 3.5 percent by 2035, in line with NATO targets.

Speaking at the Labour Party conference, Streeting framed the need to boost defence investment as part of a broader commitment. He described the proposed increases as the most substantial sustained uplift in defence funding since the Cold War. Addressing critics on the left directly, Streeting argued that opposing defence expenditure does not equate to defending public services. He referenced former Labour Defence Secretary Denis Healey, who famously cautioned that severely cutting defence spending can ultimately jeopardize all public infrastructure, leaving behind "a heap of cinders."

The debate reflects a wider tension within Labour and the UK’s broader political landscape, balancing the demands of national security amid evolving global threats with calls for increased funding for public-sector workers and services. The government’s forthcoming spending pathway will likely continue to expose these fault lines as it seeks to meet NATO commitments while responding to domestic economic pressures.