Defence spending is an insatiable beast. John Healey is right to tame it | John McTernan
The MoD grossly overspends then claims poverty. It’s high time it was treated as just one part of a progressive government Nowhere was the confidence of the prime minister, Andy Burnham, shown as clearly as in his appointment of chancellor. There were weeks of speculation that this appointment was a choice between the energy secretary, Ed Miliband, and the home secretary, Shabana Mahmood, with…
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has a history of overspending on defence and then claiming financial hardship. This pattern suggests the need for stricter fiscal management in the department. In a recent development, John Healey, a former defence secretary, was appointed to a key role in the government, which has been seen as a strategic move by Prime Minister Andy Burnham.
The appointment was seen as a clear sign of Burnham's confidence in Healey's abilities, as it resolved a period of speculation about who would be appointed. Burnham had previously considered several candidates, including Ed Miliband, the energy secretary, and Shabana Mahmood, the home secretary. The selection of Healey, who had two years of experience in defence, indicated Burnham's belief in his ability to navigate the complex landscape of defence spending.
Healey's extensive experience in the Treasury would be particularly valuable in addressing one of the key questions of the upcoming budget: how to meet Nato's ambitious defence spending targets without compromising the social initiatives of the Burnham government.
Written by urgent.news from Guardian Business's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
