John Major has called on Chancellor Jeremy Hunt not to cut taxes in his Budget next week – but to spend more on defence instead. The former prime minister said that Russia’s war with Ukraine – as well as rising tensions in the Middle East – meant that it was vital Britain ensured it allocated proper resources to defence, rather than lower the tax burden on Brits.

Asked whether defence spending should be Hunt’s priority, Major said: ‘That would be my choice. We face a real difficulty, both with defence and some public services. Usually when defence spending increases, it is because a threat is evident. There is a threat that is evident.’

Major said it was vital Britain ensured it allocated proper resources to defence

Major also warned that Britain would ‘be making a mistake over the next few years if we turn away from the necessary expenditure that must go into the armed forces.’

The former prime minister’s comments, made during a discussion with Andrew Neil at the Global Soft Power Summit in Westminster this afternoon, echo calls from other high-profile Tories to allocate more resources to the Ministry of Defence, even if that means the Sunak administration cannot give voters the tax breaks they are looking for.

Penny Mordaunt, the Commons Leader and former defence secretary, told Hunt this week that the Government’s ‘first duty’ is to protect Britain – amid reports in the Daily Telegraph that the MoD would not get any extra funding at the Budget on 6 March. Ben Wallace, another ex-defence secretary, said the UK’s ‘hollowed-out’ military would not be ‘match fit’ without a funding boost. Writing in the Telegraph, Wallace said:

‘At the general election, defence must be a priority for all the parties. If it is not, know that in four to five years’ time, when we are not ready and more vulnerable, it was in 2024 when the government of the day, be that Conservative or Labour, failed to invest in the safety of the UK.’

Major also used his address this afternoon to voice his opposition to the UAE, or any other foreign government, taking over the Telegraph or The Spectator. The government is currently conducting a probe into the UAE-backed bid for the publications.