Bishop of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich supports increase in defence spending

The Bishop of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich asked a question on raising public awareness of the need for funding of the armed forces on 28th January 2025:

The Lord Bishop of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich: My Lords, may I pick up a point raised by both the noble Baronesses on spending? I have always supported a considerable increase in spending on defence and share the frustration at the speed at which we are reaching it. My concern is that I am not sure the British public recognise that need. How are the Government proposing to raise awareness in a positive way that will support such an increase in spending?

Lord Coaker (Lab, MoD): Leaving aside the debate about the amount of spending and the increase to it, in a few months’ time we will celebrate VE Day. A few days after that, we will celebrate VJ Day. When we have these great celebrations of the victories of democracy against fascism or those who have undermined the rule of law—which we see in the present day in Ukraine—people understand that it is necessary to protect the freedom and democracy that we enjoy in this country. In many respects, our country leads that fight with our friends and allies.

However, I often think that we lack the confidence as a nation to say that and for politicians to stand up and say it. Yes, of course there are demands for spending on hospitals, schools and all the other important demands on the public purse but, ultimately, people live their lives that they do in this country because of the money paid and sacrifice made in the past to enable our democracy and freedom to flourish.

People may not feel that freedom and democracy are being attacked directly, but rest assured, through some of the hybrid and other threats that we are seeing in other parts of the world, our way of life is being challenged. That needs spelling out and saying to people because, if it is never properly explained to them, they will not forgive that in a number of years’ time. That leads to difficult but important conversations, from which we should not shy away.

Hansard