Owen Paterson will seek to put more pressure on the Conservative leadership to commit to spending 2% of national income on defence with a speech this week.
The Sunday Telegraph reports that Paterson, the former environment secretary, will accuse the government of “succumbing to temptation” to reduce spending when he addresses the Heritage Foundation thinktank in the US.
Related content
NEW: Defensive measures: CSW interviews Ministry of Defence permanent secretary Jon Thompson
Feature: DE&S reform
Thompson 'confident' MoD can bring down equipment support budget
Michael Fallon, the defence secretary, has told the same newspaper the Tories are providing an “absolute promise” that the Armed Forces will “get the resources and equipment they need and the regulars will not be cut further”. He added that he would “certainly be fighting” against cuts to the defence budget in future spending negotiations.
The Sunday Times reports that Tory backbenchers could demand the 2% target in return for keeping Mr Cameron in post after the election, if he fails to win a majority.