Rachel Reeves has been scolded for her "disastrous" plans to slash public spending to fund increased defence spending.
The Chancellor has suggested cutting up to £5billion from welfare benefits as part of efforts to boost Britain's military budget to 2.5 per cent of GDP by 2027.
Ahead of the Spring Budget announcement, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has pledged a further £2.26billion to Ukraine, following President Zelensky's public spat with US President Donald Trump.
Discussing the move on GB News, Britain's Newsroom hosts Bev Turner and Andrew Pierce expressed their outrage at the Labour Government for seemingly prioritising international issues over Britain's.
Bev Turner hit out at Reeves's suggestion of cutting public spending to fund Ukraine defence, claiming it would be 'disastrous'
PA / GB News
In discussion with the GB News panel, Andrew questioned whether Labour MPs will support these spending priorities.
"Labour MPs are now going to be told almost certainly by the Chancellor, there's going to have to be cuts in spending on disability benefits, welfare benefits while they're going to increase spending on defence. Are Labour MPs going to stomach that?" he said.
Andrew added that with a large majority, cutting disability and pensioner benefits while increasing defence spending could prove politically challenging.
"Putting troops on the ground in Ukraine would be ruinously expensive," he warned.
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The Chancellor has suggested that public spending will be cut in order to reach Starmer's defence spending pledge
PAIn agreement with Andrew, Bev declared that the "public appetite is not for defence spending", stating that Reeves's plans are "disastrous".
Defending the Government, former Labour MP Stephen Pound claimed that MPs believe the "defence of the nation comes first", and historically the House has voted that way before.
Pound explained: "In 1945 if you remember, Clement Attlee then became the Deputy Prime Minister - when it comes down to the old guns vs butter argument, the defence of the nation comes first. No question about that.
"We don't know that these cuts are happening yet, it is rumours."
Pound defended the Labour Government and claimed the 'defence of the nation comes first'
GB News
Reeves is aiming to cut unnecessary red tape that slows down the procurement of defence equipment.
"I do want to make sure that as we spend more on defence that is used to support British jobs and British industries," Reeves said.
Reeves also acknowledged that Britain will be hit by Donald Trump's tariffs even if only indirectly.
"We will be affected by slowing global trade, by slower GDP growth and by higher inflation than otherwise would be the case," she warned.
