Nigel Farage will today expand on Ukip's commitment to spend 2% of gross domestic product (GDP) on defence and call for a dedicated veterans minister to be appointed independent of the Ministry of Defence.

Mr Farage will condemn rising aid budgets under David Cameron in a speech on a regional visit in England and will accuse both Labour and the Conservatives of abandoning the military covenant.

He will say the Tories are guilty of "shocking double standards" and insist Mr Cameron is "profoundly letting down" Britain's armed forces by breaching the Nato spending target while lecturing other countries on spending more.

Mr Farage, bidding to enter parliament as MP for Thanet South at May's General Election, will insist Ukip is the "party for the armed forces".

And in a direct attack on the Prime Minister, the Ukip leader will add: "No previous Conservative prime minister in history would have countenanced sanctioning continual rises in foreign aid giveaways while at the same time pursuing a programme of continual cuts in defence."

Mr Farage will argue a veterans minister should be appointed outside the MoD to ensure current and future veterans get specialist support under government schemes.

This will include priority access to social housing and a fast track card for NHS mental health services.

Troops who have served more than 12 years would be offered jobs in the police force, prison service and the borders agency.

Ukip would also introduce a national service medal for everyone who has served in Britain's armed forces.

A Conservative Party spokesman said Mr Farage was "playing politics with the military in a calculated and completely irresponsible way".

The spokesman said Ukip had indicated it would spend savings from cuts to the aid budget on 15 different priorities.

He added: "This government, on the other hand, is committed to protecting our armed forces and keeping our country safe.

"We've balanced the defence budget after inheriting a truly enormous black hole from Labour."