THE SQUARE Today 🌐 24 April 2024

Sunak’s £75 billion defence boost: Fact or fiction?

PM Rishi Sunak’s recent announcement on defence spending has ignited a crucial debate, with significant concerns about the accuracy and implications of the proposed budget increase. The Institute for Fiscal Studies and Economist Ben Zaranko have cast doubt on the projected £75 billion increase in defence spending over six years. Zaranko specifically points out that this figure is based on the assumption of stagnant spending in cash terms, potentially violating NATO commitments.

In reality, when considering defence spending as a percentage of GDP, the increase amounts to approximately £20 billion over the specified period. Zaranko has acknowledged this discrepancy as a significant announcement, emphasising the unnecessary inflation of figures to create a misleading impression of the investment. The government’s strategy to counterbalance the additional defence expenditure through significant civil service job cuts has sparked criticism. The lack of transparency about the source of £2.9 billion annually for defence spending and the potential impact on 70,000 jobs in Whitehall have been met with scepticism.

Despite PM Sunak’s assurance that the funding is secure and sustainable, there are pressing questions about the feasibility of maintaining public services, cutting taxes, and implementing the defence budget increase. The Institute for Fiscal Studies has also expressed doubts about the government’s ability to balance these commitments effectively, underscoring the potential implications for the public.

Urgent appeal for humanitarian assistance in the Gaza Strip and West Bank

There is a critical humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, where the UN agency UNRWA has launched a $1.2 billion appeal to address the pressing needs of 1.7 million people in Gaza and over 200,000 Palestine refugees in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem.

UNRWA provides essential humanitarian assistance and development services in health and education to alleviate the suffering of those affected by the ongoing violence and conflict in the region. As the largest humanitarian organization operating in Gaza, UNRWA plays a vital role in managing shelters, distributing food, providing healthcare, and coordinating aid deliveries. The situation there is dire, with the population in Gaza heavily reliant on aid for survival.

Furthermore, UNRWA facilities in Gaza have been subjected to continued bombardment and attacks, resulting in casualties and further displacement of vulnerable populations.