Defence Secretary Grant Shapps said it was "very reasonable" to cut 72,000 civil service jobs to fund Rishi Sunak's pledge to boost defence spending to 2.5% of gross domestic product by 2030.This re-commits to a target set by former prime minister Boris Johnson in 2022 and firms up Mr Sunak's own stance on the defence budget.

Defence Secretary Grant Shapps said it was "very reasonable" to cut 72,000 civil service jobs to fund Rishi Sunak's pledge to boost defence spending to 2.5% of gross domestic product by 2030.This re-commits to a target set by former prime minister Boris Johnson in 2022 and firms up Mr Sunak's own stance on the defence budget.