Chilling warning from former spy chief who makes dire prediction – ‘threats are rising’ | Politics | News | EUROtoday

The former spy chief says the Government ought to axe deliberate tax cuts and as an alternative improve spending on defence.

Baroness Neville-Jones served as safety and counter-terrorism minister underneath Lord Cameron till 2011. She was additionally chairman of the Joint Intelligence Committee, the federal government physique that oversees the safety providers, GCHQ and defence intelligence

Speaking to Times Radio, Neville-Jones has now stated she needs to see round 2.5 % of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) spent on defence funding.

That can be up from the two.27 % at the moment allotted to defence.

It comes as Neville-Jones warns “threats are growing”. She stated: “I think, yes, we do have to increase, up our level of defence and security expenditure.

“I believe all of it relies on how excessive a precedence you regard the safety and defence of the nation as being. And I believe it is simple that it is mounting that ladder. And we could have to change our priorities and spend extra on defence.”

She suggested the public would back the increase in spending, even if it came at the expense of the long-awaited tax cuts, reports The Telegraph.

Neville-Jones’ comments come at a time when the Government is facing increased pressure to increase its defence spending. No additional money was put aside for defence during the budget last month.

Armed Forces minister James Heappey quit during the row, saying “each foremost events ought to strongly think about an extra improve in defence spending within the subsequent parliament”.

While Defence Secretary Grant Shapps said “about three %” should be put aside for the defence budget. He told The Telegraph: “Defence is one of the simplest ways to guard ourselves in opposition to a army battle, it’s important to present your adversaries, so I’m clearly in favour.”

Former immigration minister Robert Jenrick known as for a 50 % reduce in international help to assist improve defence funding.