Keir Starmer's government is struggling to publish a long-awaited defence investment plan, according to sources cited by the original report, with a £28bn funding gap for the next four years stalling Cabinet agreement. The plan, originally due last autumn, was expected to be released when Parliament returns from recess next week, but government sources have now played down that prospect. The delay comes despite the government's pledge to increase defence spending to 2.7% of GDP from next year and to 3.5% by 2035.

The £28bn hole that split the Cabinet

At the heart of the delay is an estimated £28bn shortfall in defence funding over the next four years, as reported by the source. Prime Minister Keir Starmer has been wrangling with ministers for months over how to fill that gap, with the Treasury, led by Rachel Reeves, resisting pressure to allocate additional cash. The report notes that Treasury efforts to limit extra spending continue despite growing alarm at the threats facing the UK, a tension that has now delayed the investment plan indefinitely.

Government sources told the outlet that the Cabinet remains unable to agree on the plan's details. Lord George Robertson, a former Labour defence secretary and co-author of the Strategic Defence Review, used a lecture last month to accuse the government of 'corrosive complacency' and accused Starmer of being unwilling to 'make the necessary investment.' The rebuke from a senior Labour figure underscores the internal discontent.

Why the Treasury is pushing back under Rachel Reeves

Chancellor Rachel Reeves' Treasury has been trying to limit how much extra cash it must find for defence, according to the source. The report states that the government faces a £28bn black hole, with the Treasury prioritising fiscal restraint over military spending. this has created a standoff : Starmer's pledge to boost defence spending to 3.5% of GDP by 2035 is on the books, but the interim investment plan to set out proirities over the next decade has not been released. The delay suggests that the Treasury is winning the argument, at least for now,as the government weighs higher welfare spending against military needs.

A NATO summit deadline and Trump's shadow

The delay carries international consequences, the report explains, as NATO officials have voiced concern that the package will not be ready for the alliance's July summit. That meeting is expected to include heightened pressure from US President Donald Trump, who has criticised partners for refusing to back his policies, including against Iran. The report notes that Trump is set to 'up pressure on the alliance' in July, making a missing UK defence plan a potential embarrassment for Starmer at a crucial moment. Tensions have already been building after Trump criticised partners for not backing his war against Iran, amplifying the need for a clear UK position.

Tories move to force Labour's hand with June 2 vote

The opposition Conservative Party is exploiting the delay, according to the source. Shadow defence minister David Reed said: 'Labour has no plan to keep this country safe, with the defence investment plan still missing a whole year after the Strategic Defence Review was published.' He added that the government chose 'higher welfare spending over bolstering our military at the most dangerous moment in a generation.' The Tories will push for a vote on an amendment to the Armed Forces Bill on June 2, which would require Defence Secretary John Healey to lay the plan before both houses of Parliament within a month of Royal Assent. The date is symbolic: it marks one year since Labour published its Strategic Defence Review.. In response, pensions minister Torsten Bell defended the delay, telling Sky News the plan will be published 'when it's ready' and that the government needs to 'get the details right' given lessons from the Ukraine conflict. The amendment vote will test whether Labour can hold its line against a united opposition.