Senior No 10 aides to lobby Andy Burnham to invest more than £13.5bn defence spend

Downing Street figures plan to convince Burnham to revive ‘war bonds’ when he becomes prime minister

Downing Street aides are planning to lobby Andy Burnham during access talks to revive the idea of “war bonds” to pay for higher defence spending when he becomes prime minister, the Guardian understands.

Senior No 10 figures want the Treasury to be allowed to borrow more for military spending and will try to convince Burnham to invest beyond the £13.5bn earmarked for the long-awaited Defence Investment Plan (Dip).