Britain should spend billions to save itself from World War III, warns Defence Secretary Grant Shapps

BRITAIN should spend billions more to save itself from World War Three, Defence Secretary Grant Shapps has warned.

Speaking in Poland where UK troops are in war games, he said he was “clearly in favour” of raising defence spending to three per cent of GDP.

Current spend is 2.27 per cent, with the Government committed to 2.5 when conditions allow.

Mr Shapps and Jeremy Hunt both pledged to raise defence spending to three per cent in the 2022 Tory leadership race.

Amid threats from Russia and China, Mr Shapps said: “It is a more dangerous world now. Defence is the best way to protect ourselves.

“You have to show your adversaries, so I am clearly in favour.”

He said the cost of beating Russia was “cheap at half the price”.

Shapps said the world was now more dangerous which made them money more urgent.

He said: “I have spoken in the past about the need for 3 per cent, before I was Defence Secretary.

“I do believe it is a more dangerous world.

“We have to be much more prepared. Defence is the best way to protect ourselves against a military conflict, you have to show your adversaries, so I am clearly in favour.”

Poland’s President Andrzej Duda called for all Nato members to increase investment in their armed forces to 3 per cent – saying such a move would send a ‘clear’ message to Vladimir Putin.