A petition calling on the UK Government not to increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP has attracted just 611 signatures since it was launched on 3 April 2025 — a number that underscores just how little appetite there is for reversing the country’s current defence trajectory.
The petition argues that increasing military spending would “exacerbate international tensions” and make British involvement in wars more likely, thereby placing the public at greater risk. Yet despite those claims, support has been minimal. At its current rate, the petition is projected to close in October with around 1,300 signatures.
This comes at a time when the UK is making one of its most significant defence investments in decades. The Strategic Defence Review, published on 2 June, committed to raising defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027, with an ambition to go further. That increase is not arbitrary — it is driven by clear-eyed assessments of the threats facing the UK and its allies, from Russian aggression in Europe to growing instability in the Red Sea and rising tensions in the Indo-Pacific.
The review also outlines a broad programme of investment: new submarines under the SSN‑AUKUS programme, thousands of long-range missiles, expanded cyber capabilities, new munitions factories, and an uplift in armed forces personnel and readiness. These are not symbolic measures. They are designed to ensure Britain remains capable of protecting its interests, deterring aggression, and contributing meaningfully to collective security through NATO and beyond.
Against that backdrop, the petition feels less like a principled mass movement and more like a curio. With only 31 people signing in the past 24 hours, it has not come close to the 10,000-signature threshold that would trigger an official Government response, and remains far from the 100,000 required for parliamentary debate.
Britain is not alone in strengthening its defences. NATO allies across Europe are making similar commitments to increased spending, modernisation and resilience. Far from “exacerbating tensions”, these moves reflect a growing understanding that the era of complacency is over, and that credible deterrence is once again essential.
The country appears broadly supportive of a stronger, better-equipped military, particularly in light of recent global events. As for the petition, it remains online, a quiet outlier, its warning about risk going largely unheard.
Si vis pacem para bellum.
Quite.
The public well understand what has happened in UKR.
It has been forever thus.
A good propaganda effort on behalf of the government Craig. The SDR agreed to an already existing and delayed decision to increase defence spending to 2.5 per cent of GDP by 27/28. That assumes that GDP growth remains steady otherwise the increase could mean spending less money in real terms. The “ambition” is in ten years and subject to the phrase “If the budget allows” so it could mean NIL.
As for the broad programme fo investment all we have seen so far is stagnation, following on from the Tories, who incidentally did promise 2.5 per cent now.
AUKUS subs, again already agreed in fifteen to twenty years; 3,000 missiles of which type, the opening of munition factories, primarily in Scotland and an increase in numbers in the armed forces. How?
People who are against defence spending are perfectly correct – it is wrong. Sadly, it is also necessary. In an ideal world Russia wouldn’t be attacking Ukraine and threatening to nuke London. In an ideal world no country would need a standing army. It isn’t about ‘spending a lot on defence good’, it’s about ‘spending a lot on defence necessary.’ As to how much? Trump is a bully. He threatens and attempts to intimidate his friends. 99% of what he says and does I am totally against. When he says ‘countries need to be spending 5% of GDP on defence’ – might quibble with the exact percentage, but I agree with the general idea. And I hate saying that I agree with him on something!
It is time this country went back to the defence posture of walking quietly, while carrying a cricket bat.
Unless the country is safe Education, Health is for nought.
Despite big losses in UKR, Russia is emboldened by Trump’s indifference to the fate of its NATO allies.
Russia is spending 6% GDP on its military, plus it gets a lot of help from Iran, North Korea, and China.
It’s not warmongering, it is a reality that we cannot afford to ignore geopolitical events and hope that they won’t affect us.
We have to prepare for the worst case scenario.
Russia is spending at least 19% of its budget on defence….
I wonder who instigated it? Some uni student offended, or someone like Diane Abbot and the Labour Left?
First to complain, first to hide under the table screaming for protection by armed men and women prepared to do violence on their behalf……
👍
Underlines not Underscores