Senior military officers are concerned by the cost of Britain buying the next generation of F-35 fighter jets

Britain should be ready to increase defence spending at the expense of the NHS to ensure its security and to remain a strong ally, the US ambassador to the UK has indicated.

Woody Johnson said that there would have to be “trade-offs” as Theresa May’s government balances the competing demands for public funding from areas such as health, education and transport with defence and security. President Trump has said that he does not want the United States to bankroll the security of Europe and will be looking for Nato allies, including the UK, to pay their way, Mr Johnson told journalists at the US embassy in London.

“Healthcare is always going to be an issue, education is always going to be an issue, transportation and