Government officials to lobby Andy Burnham to invest more than £13.5bn defence spend

Senior figures plan to convince Burnham to revive war bonds' when he becomes prime minister

Senior government officials are planning to lobby Andy Burnham during access talks to revive the idea of war bonds" to pay for higher defence spending when he becomes prime minister, the Guardian understands.

Senior figures want the Treasury to be allowed to borrow more for military spending and will try to convince Burnham to invest beyond the 13.5bn earmarked for the long-awaited Defence Investment Plan (Dip).