Wallace steps up war of words with fellow minister Mercer over defence funding
The IndependentFor free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. The public row saw Mr Mercer’s wife accuse the Defence Secretary of treating her husband with “disdain”. Mr Wallace said Mr Mercer was a “junior minister” who “luckily doesn’t have to run a budget” as he contrasted their level of Government responsibilities. And that’s my job.” Asked if Mr Mercer, whose role as minister of state for veterans’ affairs is within the Cabinet Office rather than the Ministry of Defence, was being naive, Mr Wallace said: “No, no, no. “It provided an uplift of £24 billion over four years, and of course additional funding has also been provided for Ukraine.” The spokesman said future defence spending is a “live issue” for Chancellor Jeremy Hunt ahead of the March budget.
History of this topic
Keir Starmer will not appoint dedicated veterans’ minister sitting in cabinet
The Independent
Why is veterans minister Johnny Mercer facing jail over the special forces inquiry?
The Independent
Minister tasked with investigating potential SAS crimes in Afghanistan ‘unable’ to disprove cover-up
The Independent
Grant Shapps is new Defence Secretary after Ben Wallace resignation
The Independent
Watch as Ben Wallace delivers Defence Command Paper refresh in Commons
The Independent
Ben Wallace says UK must cut troop numbers or send them out with ‘pitchforks’
The Independent
Ben Wallace to step down as an MP at next election
The Independent
Ben Wallace slaps down Johnny Mercer as war of words escalates
The Independent
Johnny Mercer says Defence Secretary’s underfunding comments ‘not credible’
The Independent
Defence minister ‘sacked’ by Boris Johnson in troops row
The IndependentDiscover Related
