Exclusive: The UK military still expects John Healey to commit to spending 3% of GDP on defence by 2030, despite accusations the chancellor is backsliding on his past ambitions to hit that target. Senior figures in the military were told by the Treasury weeks ago that it would not be possible to announce the target at the Oct. 28 budget and that the decision would be deferred until the multi-year public spending review next year. Nonetheless, following conversations with Healey, it is their expectation that a 3% by 2030 target will be announced at that review, the people said. It would cost around £15 billion extra per year. One of the people said the military understands the Treasury’s difficulty in finding more money for defence at a time when the public finances are stretched. While they would have preferred the target to be announced sooner, they said they would welcome the commitment being made next year. Another of the people said they didn’t think it would be possible for Healey to backtrack given his determination to secure the 2030 target date while he was defence secretary. His resignation letter to Keir Starmer leaves no wiggle room: “I am certain that a headmark date for 3% of GDP on defence in 2030 is what Britain must set.” Healey said in an interview with @katyballs @MaxKendix today that defence would be “central to the spending review” and that he wouldn’t be a hypocrite over his past commitments.