Key Facts

• The UK's armed forces will have to "dial back" training and operations if they do not receive more cash than is currently being offered, according to Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Knighton, the chief of the defence staff.
• The government's Defence Investment Plan (DIP) does not include enough funding to support "day-to-day activities" in the short term, prompting concerns about the readiness of the armed forces.
• John Healey resigned as defence secretary last week, claiming the proposed cash settlement "would reduce the readiness of our Forces and increase the risk to personnel on operations," and warning that the DIP plan "backloaded" spending increases when the UK's forces needed to "speed up readiness to fight in the first two years."
• The government has committed to increasing defence spending to 3.5% of national income by 2035, but Healey says the UK needs to be spending 3% of gross domestic product (GDP) on defence by 2030, citing that by 2030, well over half of Nato members will be spending 3% or more.
• The new defence secretary, Dan Jarvis, is currently reviewing how the money will be spent, but there has been no suggestion from No 10 that extra cash will be found, despite concerns from Healey and Sir Richard Knighton about the level of day-to-day activity funding.