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UKIP backing 2% defence spending target UKIP backing 2% defence spending target
(about 3 hours later)
UKIP will commit to spending 2% of the UK's GDP on defence if it plays a role in government after the election.UKIP will commit to spending 2% of the UK's GDP on defence if it plays a role in government after the election.
Economic spokesman Patrick O'Flynn said the guarantee could be "comfortably met" by reducing the foreign aid budget, scrapping the HS2 rail link and reducing public funding for Scotland.Economic spokesman Patrick O'Flynn said the guarantee could be "comfortably met" by reducing the foreign aid budget, scrapping the HS2 rail link and reducing public funding for Scotland.
Both the Conservatives and Labour have refused to say they will ensure defence spending does not dip below 2% of GDP. Party leader Nigel Farage also promised more money for the NHS.
Mr O'Flynn said David Cameron's position was "pretty dishonourable". He said most of Britain is not feeling an economic bounce, but his party's plans would help "ordinary people."
UKIP has accused the prime minister of "lecturing" other Nato members about meeting the alliance's 2% target while not being willing to commit to it himself. So far, both the Conservatives and Labour have refused to say they will ensure defence spending does not dip below 2% of GDP.
The prime minister has come under intense pressure from some within his own party and an array of senior military figures who say the pledge is crucial to maintaining the country's defence capability. UKIP confirmed its defence spending pledge at a campaign event laying out its economic policies.
'Key duty' Mr Farage said UKIP's plans would give "ordinary people a better chance in life".
Chancellor George Osborne has promised to protect spending on equipment but not the overall budget. He said his party would re-allocate money from the EU and foreign aid and a number of "vanity projects... to increasing spending on defence so that we actually can be a credible international country."
The US government has made no secret of its disapproval if Britain continues to make significant cuts to defence spending. Mr Farage said: "We're the only party that can find extra money for our heard-pressed NHS without increasing borrowing."
UKIP will confirm its defence spending pledge at a campaign event in Greater Manchester later where it will lay out its economic policies. On the state of the economy, the UKIP leader added: "This is a London led and an asset led recovery. If you own stocks and shares, if you own substantial property, I accept that this government's policies have not been bad for you.
Mr O'Flynn told BBC Radio 4's Today that UKIP would spend £3bn a year more on defence than the Conservatives during the next Parliament, equivalent to about £16bn over five years. "But the rest of Britain...is not feeling any particular bounce. And actually the truth of it is that most households are worse off than they were five years ago or ten years ago, because of the massive, massive pressure on wages that has come directly as a result of uncontrolled mass migration and unskilled labour coming into this country."
"We think that defence of the realm is an absolutely key duty of government," he said.
'Foreign wars''Foreign wars'
Earlier, Mr O'Flynn told BBC Radio 4's Today that UKIP would spend £3bn a year more on defence than the Conservatives during the next Parliament, equivalent to about £16bn over five years.
"We think that defence of the realm is an absolutely key duty of government," he said.
UKIP, he said, would be the only party at the election committed to reducing the foreign aid budget and reinvesting money in defence.UKIP, he said, would be the only party at the election committed to reducing the foreign aid budget and reinvesting money in defence.
David Cameron has come under intense pressure from some within his own party and an array of senior military figures who say the pledge is crucial to maintaining the country's defence capability.
Chancellor George Osborne has promised to protect spending on equipment but not the overall budget.
'Key duty'
The US government has made no secret of its disapproval if Britain continues to make significant cuts to defence spending.
"There are three parties in this election who want to spend more and more on foreign aid giveaway and less and less on defence. We are going to say there will be at least one party which will properly fund defence.""There are three parties in this election who want to spend more and more on foreign aid giveaway and less and less on defence. We are going to say there will be at least one party which will properly fund defence."
He added: "We have had David Cameron lecturing other Nato members about the need to spend 2% of GDP on defence. To preside over a plan not to meet that himself is pretty dishonourable."He added: "We have had David Cameron lecturing other Nato members about the need to spend 2% of GDP on defence. To preside over a plan not to meet that himself is pretty dishonourable."
Mr O'Flynn said UKIP - which has questioned British policy in the Middle East and Ukraine - was a strong believer in the collective security provided by Nato but would remain "sceptical of being dragged into foreign wars".Mr O'Flynn said UKIP - which has questioned British policy in the Middle East and Ukraine - was a strong believer in the collective security provided by Nato but would remain "sceptical of being dragged into foreign wars".
UKIP will set out its tax and spending plans later, with the party focusing on helping what it says are Britons "struggling" at the lowest end of the income scale.