See more Daily Mail on Google - save us as a Preferred SourceBy JAMES TAPSFIELD, UK POLITICAL EDITOR Published: 08:20 BST, 1 July 2026 | Updated: 08:32 BST, 1 July 2026
Keir Starmer faces a PMQs bearpit today after blindsiding Andy Burnham with a near-£5billion 'unexploded bomb' in new defence plans.The premier is due in the Commons amid an outcry over the long-awaited investment package - with critics warning the £15billion funding boost over four years is 'too little too late'.But it has emerged that the source of £4.7billion of the cash will only be decided at the next Budget, by which time Mr Burnham will almost certainly be PM.Billions of pounds more will come from cuts to other departments, many of which have not been defined. The IFS think-tank warned that tax rises or curbs to services are inevitable to meet the costs.Mr Burnham was briefed on the Defence Investment Plan - DIP - but does not seem to have learned of the funding gap until yesterday, when a Treasury document was released. The PM and Rachel Reeves congratulated each other as they announced the plan at a drone factory in Maidenhead yesterday Burnham was briefed on the Defence Investment Plan - DIP - but does not seem to have learned of the funding gap until yesterday, when a Treasury document was released
