Several of the United Kingdom’s largest trade unions have voiced strong opposition to Chancellor John Healey’s potential plan to cut public spending in order to increase defence funding ahead of his first budget. The warnings underscore growing friction between the government and its traditionally supportive left-leaning unions.

Labour has committed to raising the defence budget to 3 percent of GDP by 2030, which, according to the Institute for Fiscal Studies, would require finding an additional £35 billion. The government has also pledged to boost annual defence spending by £36 billion by 2035. However, many unions argue this increase could come at the expense of vital public services, including education, transport, housing, and health.

Andrea Egan, general secretary of Unison—the UK’s largest union—asserted that government priorities should focus on revitalizing public services and infrastructure rather than spending more on overseas military engagements. Egan characterized such expenditure as a driver of rising living costs, particularly through increased oil and gas prices.

Chancellor Healey has urged government departments to identify savings within existing budgets to finance the defence expansion without resorting to further cuts. Speaking last week, he emphasized the importance of managing resources within current allocations.

Despite assurances from Labour officials that Healey—who previously worked with the Trades Union Congress—retains union support, concern is mounting across various unions about the impact of real-term reductions to non-protected public sectors. Jo Grady, general secretary of the University and College Union, criticized the approach as placing the burden of increased defence spending on already overstretched public services and workers, calling for investment to prioritize wage growth and community needs over military expansion.

Similarly, Fran Heathcote, general secretary of the Public and Commercial Services Union, cautioned that national security efforts should not undermine social, energy, or economic security. Heathcote warned that further austerity measures could devastate public services, noting that cutting departments such as net zero initiatives or employment support would hinder progress in energy security and economic growth.

Leaders from education and transport unions echoed these concerns. Matt Wrack of the teachers’ union NASUWT stated that education funding should not be compromised to support defence spending. Maryam Elsatmoudst, head of the Transport Salaried Staffs’ Association, highlighted how reducing transport and other public service budgets to finance weapons imports—particularly from the United States—would sacrifice critical jobs and services relied upon by communities.

The mounting union opposition reflects broader tensions within the Labour government as it balances fiscal targets, defence ambitions, and the demands of its core constituency ahead of upcoming fiscal reviews.