Politics, World

Resurfaced Clip Shows Sunak’s New Spending Announcement Is Not Exactly An Original Idea

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NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg (L) and Britain's Prime Minister Rishi Sunak address a press conference at the Warsaw Armoured Brigade in Warsaw, Poland, on April 23, 2024. The talks of Britain's Prime Minister Rishi Sunak with his Polish counterpart Donald Tusk and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg are expected to focus on Ukraine and wider European security. While in Poland's capital, the British Prime minister will announce £500 million ($617 million) in additional military funding for Kyiv in its more-than two-year battle against Russia's full-scale invasion, his Downing Street office said in a statement. (Photo by HENRY NICHOLLS / POOL / AFP) (Photo by HENRY NICHOLLS/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
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NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg (L) and Britain’s Prime Minister Rishi Sunak address a press conference at the Warsaw Armoured Brigade in Warsaw, Poland, on April 23, 2024. The talks of Britain’s Prime Minister Rishi Sunak with his Polish counterpart Donald Tusk and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg are expected to focus on Ukraine and wider European security. While in Poland’s capital, the British Prime minister will announce £500 million ($617 million) in additional military funding for Kyiv in its more-than two-year battle against Russia’s full-scale invasion, his Downing Street office said in a statement. (Photo by HENRY NICHOLLS / POOL / AFP) (Photo by HENRY NICHOLLS/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

An embattled Tory leader facing intense criticism domestically announces a major defence spending boost while on an overseas visit.

No, not Rishi Sunak unveiling his pledge to spend 2.5% of gross domestic product (GDP) on the military by the end of the decade.

Just weeks before he was forced to resign as prime minister after dozens of his ministers quit, Boris Johnson made exactly the same promise at a Nato summit in Madrid in June 2022.

A clip of Johnson making his announcement resurfaced as Sunak appeared alongside Nato general secretary Jens Stoltenberg at a press conference in Poland.

In the video, Johnson says: “We need to invest for the long-term, in vital capabilities like future combat air while simultaneously adapting to a more dangerous and more competitive world.

“And the logical conclusion of the investments on which we propose to embark is that we will reach 2.5% of GDP on defence by the end of the decade.”

Users of X (formerly Twitter) were quick to point out the similarity with Sunak’s own announcement, in which he said: “We will increase defence spending to a new baseline of 2.5% of GDP by 2030. That starts today and rises steadily in each and every year.”

Sunak sudden enthusiasm for increased defence spending comes amid mounting speculation that he could face attempts to oust him in the wake of next month’s local elections.

Discontent is building on the Tory backbenches at the PM’s failure to improve the Tories’ fortunes since he succeeded Liz Truss in October 2022.

That has led to speculation that Sunak could announce a general election for July to head off a leadership challenge.

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