Chancellor Rachel Reeves says the government will need to find funding for defence, and that the money cannot come solely from borrowing. In comments reported by multiple outlets, Reeves argues that “the money has to come from somewhere” and that borrowing “cannot always be the answer.” She therefore leaves open the possibility of tax rises as part of how any increase in defence spending could be financed. The reporting frames her position as acknowledging trade-offs between funding options, suggesting that citizens could face higher taxes if other sources of money are insufficient. The accounts do not specify which taxes might change, or the size and timing of any potential increase, focusing instead on Reeves’ message that the funding requirement will need to be met through a combination of fiscal choices. Overall, the sources agree that Reeves is signaling openness to tax rises to support defence priorities rather than relying exclusively on additional borrowing.