The fallout over the Defence Investment Plan has brought defence spending to the top of Andy Burnham's in-tray, exposing tensions between the Ministry of Defence and the Treasury. In his resignation letter, John Healey stated that “the Treasury has been unwilling to commit the resources that the nation needs to defend the country at this time of rising threats.” Now he is the chancellor the exchequer.
The row has largely been framed as a dispute over money. But if the public already supports higher defence spending, why has the government struggled to act so far?