Cash-strapped MoD blows £3million on 'diversity': Labour should put frontline soldiers first, say critics

The Ministry of Defence is forking out nearly £3million employing staff committed to promoting diversity and inclusion, the Daily Mail can reveal.

Despite Labour scrabbling to find more cash for defence, as many as 53 staff have been employed at the MoD to champion DEI under its watch.

It comes as the Chancellor is facing pressure from all quarters to raise defence spending at his Autumn Budget on Wednesday.

And Andrew Griffith, the shadow chancellor, called on Saturday for the chancellor to resign if he did not raise defence spending to three per cent of GDP.

Reports suggest John Healey will now invest in two major government funds as a 'down payment' on Labour's efforts to reach that figure by 2030.

But Labour was accused of caring 'more about identity politics than geopolitics' after it emerged the MoD has employed as many as 53 staff with 'diversity', 'equality', 'inclusion', 'EDI' or 'DEI' in their job titles.

According to data received via a Freedom of Information request, two RAF Wing Commanders, one Royal Navy Commodore and one RAF Squadron Leader have been employed at the MoD in DEI roles.

The job titles were recorded on the MoD's human resource systems as of 31 March 2026, two years into Labour's time in office.

It is estimated the MoD splashed out roughly £2.7million in total for each year the 53 staff members were on the payroll.

Shadow cabinet office minister Mike Wood said: 'Andy Burnham and John Healey can't find the money to fund our armed forces, yet there is apparently enough spare cash lying around at the MoD to fund woke EDI jobs.

'This absurd imbalance tells you everything you need to know about Labour's priorities.

'Getting us to 3 per cent of GDP on defence can wait, it seems, as long as we have a legion of taxpayer-funded diversity officers.

'In an increasingly dangerous world, it seems ministers care more about identity politics than geopolitics.'

'Labour are not serious about keeping our country safe. The Conservatives are the only party that will put our national security first.'

And Danny Kruger, Reform's head of preparing for government, said: 'While frontline personnel deal with equipment shortages and a manpower crisis the MoD is prioritising virtue-signalling bureaucracy.

'Frankly it's an insult to our servicemen and women. Our military's sole focus must be defending the nation.'

The cost of employing staff with diversity roles was estimated at £2,736,740 by multiplying the number of staff in each role by the job's median salary band.

An MoD spokesperson said: 'The Ministry of Defence does not recognise these figures. They are based on a keyword search of job titles and do not represent the number of staff working exclusively on diversity and inclusion.

'Our priority is delivering value for taxpayers and ensuring Defence has the best people and skills to keep Britain safe, which is why we are investing almost £300billion over the next four years.'