Lib Dems to Table ‘Humble Address’ to Force Government Disclosure Over Delayed Defence Investment Plan

The Liberal Democrats are preparing to deploy a rare parliamentary mechanism in an attempt to force the government to release undisclosed documents regarding the delayed Defence Investment Plan (DIP).

​The party plans to table a Humble Address, a formal communication to the Monarch used to request papers from government departments, to uncover what they describe as "dysfunction and discord" holding up the strategic defense blueprint.

​Departmental Gridlock and High-Profile Resignations
​The Defence Investment Plan was widely anticipated for release on Friday, June 12, marking a delay of more than six months past its original deadline. Insiders suggest the ongoing holdup stems from intense disputes between Whitehall departments over funding allocation, alongside the recent high-profile resignations of Defence Secretary John Healey and Armed Forces Minister Al Carns.
​Reports indicate that a speculated £18 billion funding boost is set to be scaled back to £13.5 billion. The potential reduction comes despite estimates of a £28 billion shortfall in the UK defense budget. National Security Adviser Jonathan Powell has reportedly warned that any funding package below the £18 billion mark could compromise Britain's defensive capabilities.

​In response to the standoff, the Liberal Democrats intend to pursue an Emergency Debate when Parliament returns on Monday, while leveraging future opposition days to mandate the disclosure of meeting minutes involving Number 10, the Treasury, and the Ministry of Defence dating back to June 2025.

​Furthermore, Liberal Democrat Defence Spokesperson James MacCleary MP has called for the former Defence Secretary, John Healey, to testify before the Defence Select Committee. MacCleary argued that, freed from the constraints of ministerial collective responsibility, Healey should clarify the causes of the delays and outline the security risks associated with a reduced defense budget.
​"Shambolic and Dangerous" Delay
​James MacCleary MP criticised the current situation, highlighting the contrast between rising international tensions and internal government disagreements.

​"The continuous delay to the Defence Investment Plan is both shambolic and dangerous. While global threats mount, the Government is caught in a gridlock of ministerial infighting, putting our national security on hold and at risk while they bicker over the budget." ​— James MacCleary MP, 
​MacCleary emphasized that the armed forces require fiscal certainty rather than bureaucratic delays, promising that his party would use available parliamentary avenues to seek transparency.

​"Our Armed Forces deserve certainty, not endless Whitehall deadlock. The Liberal Democrats will do everything possible to reveal who’s responsible for these blockages, and to force Ministers to finally come clean about the damage their infighting and continuous delays are causing to our economy and security. You cannot protect the country with a pile of unpublished reports or a budget that is not fit for purpose."
​— James MacCleary MP

​Calls for Alternative Funding via Defence Bonds
​The Liberal Democrats have positioned the current impasse as a continuation of long-term funding challenges, pointing to the records of both the current Labour administration and the previous Conservative government.

​As an alternative to the deadlocked departmental negotiations, the party is advocating for a structured, ring-fenced financial initiative to stabilize the defense balance sheet.
​"The Conservatives recklessly and shamelessly eroded our defence capabilities. They got us into this mess, but the Labour Government is now refusing to give our Armed Forces the genuine backing they need. That is why Liberal Democrats are calling for a £20 billion Defence Bonds programme as a secure, ring-fenced way to urgently strengthen our sovereign capability and end this inexcusable era of stagnation."
​— James MacCleary MP

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