Lib Dems plan to table a Humble Address forcing Government to come clean on Defence Investment Plan shambles

EMBARGO: Immediate Release

The Liberal Democrats plan to table a Humble Address motion in Parliament to force the Government to publish all hidden documents and minutes exposing the “dysfunction and discord” behind the delayed Defence Investment Plan (DIP).

The Government was expected to finally publish the Defence Investment Plan today (Friday 12th June), over six months after it was originally due. It has, however, yet again been delayed due to ferocious disagreement between departments over how to fund a much-needed boost to defence spending, and the resignations of Defence Secretary John Healey and Armed Forces Minister Al Carns.

The speculated £18 billion boost is now reportedly being cut to £13.5 billion, despite reports that the UK is facing a £28 billion defence spending shortfall. The National Security Adviser, Jonathan Powell, has suggested that anything less than £18 billion would mean Britain would struggle to defend itself.

The Liberal Democrats are planning to use all parliamentary tools at their disposal, including pushing for an Emergency Debate when Parliament returns on Monday, and using future opposition days to force the Government to publish all relevant documents, including meeting minutes for those attended by Ministers and officials from Number 10, the Treasury and the Ministry of Defence held since 2nd June 2025, to discover the depth of dysfunction and discord between departments over the DIP.

Following Healey’s resignation, Liberal Democrat Defence Spokesperson James MacCleary also called for the ex-Secretary of State to come before the Defence Select Committee, now that he is free of Ministerial Collective Responsibility, to explain what went wrong, who is responsible for the disastrous delays and be honest with the nation about the threats and risks a cut-down Defence Investment Plan exposes us to.

Liberal Democrat Defence Spokesperson, James MacCleary MP said:

“The continuous delay to the Defence Investment Plan is both shambolic and dangerous. While global threats mount, the Government is caught in a gridlock of ministerial infighting, putting our national security on hold and at risk while they bicker over the budget.

“Our Armed Forces deserve certainty, not endless Whitehall deadlock. The Liberal Democrats will do everything possible to reveal who’s responsible for these blockages, and to force Ministers to finally come clean about the damage their infighting and continuous delays are causing to our economy and security. You cannot protect the country with a pile of unpublished reports or a budget that is not fit for purpose.

“The Conservatives recklessly and shamelessly eroded our defence capabilities. They got us into this mess, but the Labour Government is now refusing to give our Armed Forces the genuine backing they need. That is why Liberal Democrats are calling for a £20 billion Defence Bonds programme as a secure, ring-fenced way to urgently strengthen our sovereign capability and end this inexcusable era of stagnation.”

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

Humble Address as follows:

That an humble Address be presented to His Majesty, that he will be graciously pleased to give directions to require the Government to lay before this House all papers relating to the preparation of the Defence Investment Plan, including but not confined to minutes of meetings between Ministers and officials from Number 10, the Treasury and the Ministry of Defence held since 2 June 2025, and the details of any departmental assessments which have been made of the economic impact which the delay to the publication of the Defence Investment Plan has had on UK companies.

£28 billion defence spending gap as reported here.

Cut to the Defence Investment Plan from £18 billion to £13.5 billion as reported here.