Minister defends long delays to UK military spending plan

Luke Pollard says blueprint expected last autumn is a bigger task than many people outside defence realise'

A government minister has defended long delays to a military spending plan that are also stalling the UK's next-generation Tempest fighter jet programme, but refused to say when it will be complete.

The defence investment plan (DIP), originally expected last autumn, has faced repeated postponements amid warnings that the military faces a 28bn funding gap over the next four years.