Starmer urged to revisit fiscal rules to allow defence uplift without harming public services
‘Protecting peace now calls for a bolder vision’ – Liz Saville Roberts MP
Plaid Cymru has today (Monday 3 March) called on the Prime Minister to ensure that neither international aid nor public services suffer as a result of the proposed increase in defence spending. Speaking in the House of Commons, the party’s Westminster leader, Liz Saville Roberts MP, urged Sir Keir Starmer to reconsider the Government’s self-imposed fiscal rules to allow responsible investment across defence, humanitarian commitments, and public services.
Ms Saville Roberts said that increasing the defence budget “shouldn’t be at the expense of international aid or public services starved of resources”.
The call comes following the Prime Minister’s Statement on Ukraine, in which he outlined a four-point plan to support peace in Europe, including a commitment to strengthening Ukrainian defences. Over the weekend, Sir Keir met with President Volodymyr Zelensky, reaffirming their shared commitment to achieving a “strong, just, and lasting peace for Ukraine.”
The UK Government has announced that an increase to its defence spending would be financed through cuts to its foreign aid budget. Plaid Cymru say that it is time for a “bolder vision” by instead allowing more investment, which would require revisiting the Government’s self-imposed fiscal rules, which set strict limits on how much the government can borrow to spend and invest.
Speaking in the House of Commons, Liz Saville Roberts MP said:
“Working together with our European partners is essential for security, stability, and peace. Plaid Cymru commends diplomatic initiatives over the weekend.
“Boosting defence spending shouldn’t be at the expense of international aid or public services starved of resources. The Prime Minister talks of Tory fiscal failures, but protecting peace now calls for a bolder vision.
“Under what circumstances would he commit to look again at the fiscal rules to ensure that the UK can responsibly invest in defence, humanitarian commitments and public services?”
Responding, the Prime Minister said:
“I thank her for her question. I do understand her concern, as I explained to the House last week that this was not a decision I wanted to take but the defence and security of Europe required us to take this decision on defence.
“On the fiscal rules, I do think economic stability is vitally important. If we lose that we will lose far more than our budgets. I will work across the House on whatever ways we can to increase development aid notwithstanding the budgetary constraints and that's why I spoke to the president of the World Bank on Friday to have that very discussion.
“I think there are discussions to be had with other countries, with other institutions and actually innovation and discussion across the House I think would be a valuable part of that exercise because the principle behind the question is the right one which is that we must support international development and aid.”
Starmer urged to revisit fiscal rules to allow defence uplift without harming public services
‘Protecting peace now calls for a bolder vision’ – Liz Saville Roberts MP
Plaid Cymru has today (Monday 3 March) called on the Prime Minister to ensure that neither international aid nor public services suffer as a result of the proposed increase in defence spending. Speaking in the House of Commons, the party’s Westminster leader, Liz Saville Roberts MP, urged Sir Keir Starmer to reconsider the Government’s self-imposed fiscal rules to allow responsible investment across defence, humanitarian commitments, and public services.
Ms Saville Roberts said that increasing the defence budget “shouldn’t be at the expense of international aid or public services starved of resources”.
The call comes following the Prime Minister’s Statement on Ukraine, in which he outlined a four-point plan to support peace in Europe, including a commitment to strengthening Ukrainian defences. Over the weekend, Sir Keir met with President Volodymyr Zelensky, reaffirming their shared commitment to achieving a “strong, just, and lasting peace for Ukraine.”
The UK Government has announced that an increase to its defence spending would be financed through cuts to its foreign aid budget. Plaid Cymru say that it is time for a “bolder vision” by instead allowing more investment, which would require revisiting the Government’s self-imposed fiscal rules, which set strict limits on how much the government can borrow to spend and invest.
Speaking in the House of Commons, Liz Saville Roberts MP said:
“Working together with our European partners is essential for security, stability, and peace. Plaid Cymru commends diplomatic initiatives over the weekend.
“Boosting defence spending shouldn’t be at the expense of international aid or public services starved of resources. The Prime Minister talks of Tory fiscal failures, but protecting peace now calls for a bolder vision.
“Under what circumstances would he commit to look again at the fiscal rules to ensure that the UK can responsibly invest in defence, humanitarian commitments and public services?”
Responding, the Prime Minister said:
“I thank her for her question. I do understand her concern, as I explained to the House last week that this was not a decision I wanted to take but the defence and security of Europe required us to take this decision on defence.
“On the fiscal rules, I do think economic stability is vitally important. If we lose that we will lose far more than our budgets. I will work across the House on whatever ways we can to increase development aid notwithstanding the budgetary constraints and that's why I spoke to the president of the World Bank on Friday to have that very discussion.
“I think there are discussions to be had with other countries, with other institutions and actually innovation and discussion across the House I think would be a valuable part of that exercise because the principle behind the question is the right one which is that we must support international development and aid.”