Several British politicians from the Conservative Party, who are going to participate in the struggle for the post of prime minister, have promised to increase military spending if they win, citing such intentions as an alleged threat from Russia.

The Telegraph writes about it. 

In particular, the head of the Ministry of Transport Grant Shapps, the Minister of Finance Nadeem Zahavi and the former head of the Foreign Office, Jeremy Hunt, are in favor of increasing military spending, the newspaper notes.

Grant Shapps said the increased funding would help "deter aggressors" and warned that the UK must prepare for "an extended period of high-intensity warfare".

“We must ... commit to increasing UK defense spending to 3% of GDP for the foreseeable future.

Our armed forces are excellent: they are brave professionals in their field, they are simply the best.

But the personnel are too small, and there is too little advanced equipment, ”The Telegraph quoted Shapps as saying.

  • Transport Minister Grant Shapps and UK Treasury Secretary Nadeem Zahavi

  • AP

The Minister for Transport argues that the UK has "too few fighter squadrons, warships and ground systems for an extended period of high-intensity warfare".

“A powerful military underscores the indispensability of the UK to our European friends.

We are the good policeman of Europe,” says the British politician.

Finance Minister Nadeem Zahavi also said that in response to the allegedly growing threat from Russia, "defense spending needs to be increased", but did not specify the range of possible increases.

In turn, the former head of the Foreign Office, Jeremy Hunt, told the newspaper that he intends to allocate at least 3% of the kingdom's GDP to the defense industry.

Overdue resignation

Recall that on July 7, Boris Johnson announced his decision to step down as Prime Minister of Great Britain and leader of the Conservative Party after a series of scandals and a mass exodus of ministers from his cabinet.

At the same time, Johnson noted that he would act as head of government until his associates in the ruling party elect a new head of the Cabinet.

In his resignation speech, Johnson specifically mentioned the situation in Ukraine and promised that the British government would continue to support Kyiv for as long as necessary.

A similar statement was made in Washington, noting that Johnson's resignation would not affect NATO's support for Ukraine.

Nevertheless, Kyiv reported that Johnson's departure saddened the Ukrainians.

This, in particular, was stated by the President of the Republic Volodymyr Zelensky.

“Friend Boris Johnson, all Ukrainians sadly received the news of the resignation of the head of the Conservative Party,” he wrote on Telegram.

Zelensky also thanked Johnson "for decisive and uncompromising assistance."

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, commenting on the resignation of the British Prime Minister, drew attention to the fact that Johnson was actually isolated by his own party.

“You see, everyone said that Russia should be isolated.

So far, his own party has isolated Boris Johnson,” Lavrov said on the sidelines of the G20 Foreign Ministers Summit.

According to the minister, Johnson, by his actions, proved that he was a politician "who is primarily chasing external effects" and "holding on to power in order to raise his political career in every possible way."

"Was a great friend"

Recall that the government of Boris Johnson actively pumped up Ukraine with weapons and military equipment.

So, according to the NBC News channel, London sent Kyiv military aid for a total of £2.3 billion ($2.75 billion).

Britain handed over to the Ukrainian Armed Forces about 6.5 thousand NLAW anti-tank systems, Brimstone missiles, as well as about 120 armored vehicles.

  • Boris Johnson

  • AP

Despite the assurances of Johnson himself, Kyiv nevertheless fears that with his resignation, the volume and intensity of military assistance from the UK may significantly decrease.

This, in particular, was stated by the deputy head of the party "Voice" Inna Sovsun.

“I understand that Boris Johnson can be evaluated in different ways and people have very different opinions about him, but in Ukraine we now have one criterion for Western politicians: the level of support for our country.

We can't afford to discuss anything else, just this.

And in this sense, Boris Johnson, of course, was a great friend for Ukraine,” Sovsun said in an interview with the British news agency PA Media.

According to the Ukrainian politician, the British prime minister "was the driving force behind the support" of Ukraine.

“He was extremely straightforward and was always on the side of Ukraine.

We are very concerned about the question of whether the British authorities will continue to adhere to this course, ”the deputy of the Rada explained.

“Against the backdrop of the falling economy of the West, only one tool remains”

As for the plans to increase defense spending, which were announced by the contenders for the post of head of the British government, experts explain such intentions by the rather aggressive foreign policy of the Conservative Party.

“They will position themselves as a political force that is ready to spend additional funds on rearming the country, on its participation in NATO programs that involve the creation of new weapons systems and the re-equipment of existing military units and formations.

It is understood that these new systems will be deployed, including in Ukraine.

All this is typical of the foreign policy of conservatives, ”explained Vladimir Bruter, an expert at the International Institute for Humanitarian and Political Studies, in an interview with RT.

At the same time, he believes that the level of direct military support for Ukraine will depend on the personality of the future prime minister.

“If, for example, Liz Truss takes the post, then most likely there will be even more of this help.

But it won't affect anything.

British arms supplies to Ukraine have a minimal effect on the course of hostilities, ”the analyst says.

Also on russian.rt.com Paying for military aid: how the UK is trying to facilitate the export of grain and food from Ukraine

In turn, political scientist Alexander Asafov believes that the Conservative Party is now unanimous in its opinion that Russia at this stage did not receive any damage during the special operation in Ukraine. 

“Therefore, efforts (to support Ukraine. -

RT

) need to be increased, they say.

The main reason for such a policy is that against the backdrop of the falling economy of the West, there is only one tool left to maintain it - to inflate the military budget and channel money through military orders.

Americans have been using this method for many years.

The UK understands that given the galloping inflation, problems with the national currency, the economic consequences of Brexit, which could not be overcome, and other obvious economic difficulties, it is necessary to turn on the printing press and increase costs, ”the political scientist argues.

At the same time, he clarified that direct subsidies to the economy would further accelerate inflation, so the British authorities would do it through the defense sector, using the situation in Ukraine as a convenient excuse, Alexander Asafov concluded.