Originally Posted by
Asturias56
In 1990 we were paying just under 6% of GDP for defence - currently just over 3%
Something has to give to get back to 1990 levels
It is difficult to see what can give except higher taxation, given public expenditure as a percentage of GDP is approx. 25% higher than in 1990 despite the endless drive for year on year cuts outside the protected areas such as health and education. Those two with pensions and benefits consumer c. 70% of public money.
I am interested in the source of your defence spending figures, NATO documents state 2.29% of GDP by UK in 2021 v 4.1% in 1990 alternatively SIPRI's database gives 2.2% (in 2020 - latest available year) v 4% - but UK's current spend is inflated by Forces pension costs.