Local MP Alan Mak has condemned the Labour Government's Defence Investment Plan as 'too little, too late'.
The much-delayed plan will see defence spending increase by £15bn between now and 2030.
But it is well short of the £28bn called for by military top brass and former Defence Secretary John Healey and former Armed Forces Minister Al Carns, who both resigned from the Government as a result.
The Treasury has reportedly only been able to identify £10.3bn in savings to fund the plan, meaning that the remaining £4.7bn will have to be found in the Autumn Budget.
Mr Mak said: "Labour’s defence plan is too little, too late, offering less than the Armed Forces need and with key drone capabilities not coming into service until 2030.
"Labour’s Defence Secretary resigned because he was being forced to make decisions that would make our troops and our country less safe.
"Labour’s defence plan still fails to fund our Armed Forces, fails to protect our country, fails to support our local economy, and invests well below what our allies are spending."
Mr Mak added: "Instead, Labour should cut the ballooning welfare benefits bill to fund our Armed Forces properly."
