The claim of the highest defence share in thirty years depends on the comparison period. The historical figures read here put spending at 2.6 percent of GDP in 2009 and 2.7 percent in 1996. They also give 2.9 percent for 1995 and 3.4 percent for 1994. On that comparison, the 2.7 percent target broadly restores a mid-1990s share, while 3.5 percent would return closer to the early 1990s. The rising graph is therefore assessed against earlier spending levels as well as recent increases.
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The GDP spending target returns to a 1990s baseline
Historical GDP shares place the proposed increase beside the spending levels of the 1990s and 2009.