increase UK military spending<\/a> to 2.5% of national income by 2030.<\/p>\nMr Hunt confirmed the increase will cost an extra \u00a320bn, which unions claim will be funded by cutting 70,000 jobs.<\/p>\n
Downing Street said the plans would be funded through existing commitments to reduce the civil service headcount to pre-Covid levels, and giving the ministry of defence (MoD) a share of an already-announced increase in government research spending.<\/p>\n
The Public and Commercial Services Union said cutting civil servants’ jobs to pay for higher defence spending would lead to longer waiting lists for new passports, driving tests and driving licence.<\/p>\n
The announcement comes after Prime Minister Rishi Sunak confirmed the UK would provide an additional \u00a3500m for Ukraine this year, on top of \u00a32.5bn already allocated.<\/p>\n
Mr Sunak added that the UK could continue to provide “at least the current level of military support to Ukraine for every year it is needed”.<\/p>\n
Speaking in Kyiv ahead of a meeting with President Volodymyr Zelensky, Mr Hunt said he hope the increased funding would be “a turning point in this war”.<\/p>\n
“We think other European countries will follow us and that will send a message to Putin that he is not going to succeed,” Mr Hunt said.<\/p>\n
The “UK has a special role” in supporting the Ukraine war effort, because “we have the largest defence budget in Europe,” he added.<\/p>\n
“I’m here because if we want to restore peace in Europe, we must make sure that Putin does not succeed with his evil war of aggression right here in Ukraine,” he said.<\/p>\n\n