Defence Secretary Wes Streeting says he began stockpiling food and water weeks ago due to rising threats to the UK. Streeting framed the move within a broader discussion of defence spending increases.
Chancellor John Healey announced plans to raise defence spending to 3% of gross domestic product by 2030 and 3.5% by 2035. Healey has asked Whitehall departments to find 1% cuts in their budgets to fund the defence spending increase.
Streeting said his department prioritized value for money and modernisation in response to threats facing the country. He stated that the defence ministry had already begun ramping up spending.