Andy Burnham has been criticised by a senior military figure for using a recent announcement on submarine funding to divert attention from broader defence spending challenges facing the United Kingdom. General Sir Richard Barrons, former head of joint forces command and co-author of a strategic defence review, warned that the UK must increase its defence budget more rapidly than currently planned to maintain credible deterrence against Russia by 2030.

In comments made during the week, Barrons expressed doubt that meeting NATO’s target of allocating 3.5 percent of GDP to defence by 2035 will be achievable without immediate and substantial increases in spending. He criticised Burnham, pointing out that discussions about existing, funded nuclear programmes should not be used as a “smokescreen” to avoid addressing wider budgetary shortfalls. "This is a problem that will not go away just by ignoring it and the clock is ticking ever louder," Barrons said.

The criticism follows the government’s announcement of an £8.4 billion investment into the next phase of the Dreadnought-class nuclear submarine programme, intended to replace the aging Vanguard fleet that forms the backbone of the UK’s continuous at-sea nuclear deterrent. However, Barrons emphasised that the funding for the submarines is part of previously allocated resources and is not additional money. He noted that Prime Minister Burnham’s framing of the project as part of a regional economic regeneration strategy diverts focus from pressing national security needs.

On the ground, a senior military source underscored the importance of visible and sustained investment in defence to maintain morale among service personnel and uphold the UK’s credibility within military alliances. Meanwhile, John Healey, the former defence secretary who resigned under Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer and now serves as chancellor, has advocated reaching 3 percent defence spending by 2030. Healey has described the next spending review as critical for establishing a clear and realistic path toward NATO’s 3.5 percent target. He warned that European security remains under threat with the potential for Russian aggression possibly emerging around 2030.

Defence Secretary Wes Streeting, speaking during a visit to Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, said he was not ruling out increasing defence spending to 3 percent of GDP by the next parliamentary term but stressed that any such commitments must be fiscally responsible and accompanied by clear funding plans. He cautioned against imprudent promises, recalling the damage caused by previous governments’ “reckless” spending and unfunded tax cuts, and said maintaining fiscal discipline was essential to preserve credibility.

Despite some optimism from Ministry of Defence officials about Healey’s appointment indicating a potential boost to defence budgets ahead of the next election, Barrons expressed skepticism, suggesting that such increases are now uncertain. John Foreman, a former defence attaché to Moscow and Kyiv, described the current defence programme as “overheated and unfunded” and predicted that a commitment to reach NATO spending targets before the next election was unlikely. According to the Office for Budget Responsibility, increasing the UK’s defence budget to 3 percent by 2029-30 would require an additional £17.3 billion in that year alone.

Burnham indicated on Wednesday that he does not intend to raise defence spending to meet the 3 percent goal within the next four years, aligning defence commitments related to the upcoming parliament primarily with NATO’s 3.5 percent target for 2035. This position continues to fuel debate over the pace and scale of future UK defence investment amid mounting security concerns in Europe.