21 h. ago Germany’s spending push drives up borrowing costs across Eurozone

Investors warn that higher bond yields could make it harder for members of the bloc to increase defence spending

Economics

4 d. ago NATO scrambles to reassure Trump it can 'step up' after US defence chief berated 'European freeloading' in leaked text scandal

Mark Rutte, the Secretary General, told Donald Trump that 'now is not the time to go alone' and that 'Europe needs to know that Uncle Sam still has our back.'

Politics

5 d. ago Rachel Reeves allocates £2.2bn to turn UK into a 'defence superpower'

The Chancellor promised to spend 'a minimum of 10 per cent' of the Ministry of Defence's equipment budget on 'novel technologies' such as artificial intelligence and drones.

Economics

5 d. ago Donald Trump has 'got a case' for saying Europe needs to spend more on defence

Defence Secretary John Healey has suggested the US has laid down a 'challenge', it was revealed JD Dunce hated 'bailing Europe out' and Pete Hegseth said 'European freeloading' was 'pathetic'

Politics

5 d. ago Royal Navy could bring four laser 'death ray' weapons that can destroy a £1 coin from a kilometre away into service in just two years under defence spending boost

The spaced-aged 'death ray', dubbed 'DragonFire', is used to blow up missiles, jets and swarms of explosive suicide drones - with a former head of the Royal Navy hailing them 'war-winners'.

Economics

5 d. ago MoD spending puts UK in 'grave danger' from threats by 'doing it on a shoestring'

Former SAS-trained bodyguard Graham Yuill has moaned about the 'shoestring' amount of money the Ministry of Defence has pledged to increase their spending on defence by

Events

5 d. ago Chancellor insists Scotland’s economy should benefit from increased defence spending

Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves MP says Scotland should be in a position to prosper off the back of increased spending on defence.

Economics

5 d. ago Reeves puts £2.2bn more into defence spending with cash for drones, AI and better homes for soldiers in Spring Statement amid Armed Forces pressure from Trump and Russia

The Chancellor said the UK must 'move quickly in a changing world' to up its defence commitment in her Spring Statement in the Commons.

Events

5 d. ago Will Rachel Reeves’s tough decisions pay off? Our panel on the spring statement

The chancellor boosted defence spending while piling on further welfare cuts – all set against gloomy growth forecasts Continue reading...

Politics

5 d. ago EU steps up crisis planning and advises people to stockpile 72 hours of supplies – Europe live

The EU has announced its Preparedness Union Strategy, outlining plans to prevent and respond to new crises and threatsMeanwhile, Swedish prime minister Ulf Kristersson has confirmed the country plans to increase the country’s defence spending to a provisional target of 3.5% of GDP by 2030 in the largest push since the end of cold war.Sweden was expected to spend 2.14% in 2024, with projections reaching 2.4% this year, and 2.6% in 2028.Let’s not forget that Russia is and remains the most significant and dark threat to our alliance. Let’s not forget that Russia is moving into a wartime economy. And that will have a huge impact on their capacity and capability to build their armed forces.When it comes to the defence of Poland and the general defence of Nato territory, if anyone were to miscalculate and think they can get away with an attack on Poland or on any other ally, they will be met with the full force of this fierce alliance. Our reaction will be devastating.This has to be very ...

Events

5 d. ago Read the Chancellor's Spring Statement in full: From welfare cuts to defence spending and national living wage

All 50 pages of the spring statement were issued as a PDF by the Treasury today after the Chancellor blamed 'increased global uncertainty' as the budget watchdog slashed its economic growth forecast.

Economics

5 d. ago Rachel Reeves announces Glasgow will share £2.2bn defence spending increase

The UK Chancellor announced more funding for cutting edge technologies such as drones and AI as the country ramps up military spending.

Economics

5 d. ago Reeves puts £2.2bn more into defence spending with cash for drones, AI and better homes for soldiers in Spring Statement amid Armed Forces  pressure from Trump and Russia

The Chancellor said the UK must 'move quickly in a changing world' to up its defence commitment in her Spring Statement in the Commons.

Events

5 d. ago Reeves announces welfare changes, increased defence spending and new growth forecasts – spring statement live

Chancellor OBR forecasts for UK growth halved in 2025 but up in the remaining years of this parliamentSpring statement 2025: key points at a glanceRachel Reeves will not be raising taxes in the spring statement today, even though there are many people on the left who would prefer taxes to rise as an alternative to public spending being cut. Reeves came into office promising only one budget-type event a year, and that is one reason why she is not hiking taxes today. But mainly it’s because she thinks Britons are relatively highly taxed already, because Labour was elected on a manifesto ruling out most of the obvious possible tax rises and because she’s not convinced a sweeping wealth tax would work.But that has not stopped campaigners calling for a wealth tax, and yesterday about 300 people attended a ‘Tax the Super-Rich’ rally outside the Treasury. It was organised by charities and social justice campaign groups, but one of the speakers was Carla Denyer, co-leader of the Green party...

Economics

5 d. ago FTSE 100 Live 26 March: Inflation boost ahead of Chancellor statement, Ocado surges

Chancellor Rachel Reeves is set to announce welfare cuts and a boost to defence spending when she delivers a statement to parliament today.

Economics

5 d. ago John Healey challenged over £2.2bn defence boost as benefits to be slashed further

John Healey was challenged on whether national defence comes “even before the most vulnerable in society” as Rachel Reeves is set to cut benefits further in her spring statement on Wednesday, 26 March, while defence will see a boost in spending.

Economics

5 d. ago Trump team who declared European nations 'pathetic freeloaders' have 'absolutely got a case', UK defence secretary admits

John Healey said he regards the comments from US officials as a 'challenge' and that Britain is 'leading the way' in boosting defence spending.

Politics

5 d. ago FTSE 100 Live 26 March: Inflation cheer ahead of Chancellor statement, Vistry halts dividend

Chancellor Rachel Reeves is set to announce welfare cuts and a boost to defence spending when she delivers a statement to parliament today.

Economics

5 d. ago Further welfare cuts expected as Rachel Reeves prepares to deliver spring statement – UK politics live

Keir Starmer will face Kemi Badenoch at PMQs before the chancellor delivers her spring statement John Healey, the defence secretary, has been doing an interview round this morning because overnight the Treasury briefed journalists that Rachel Reeves will announce an extra £2.2bn in defence spending from April in the spring statement. (Presumably that was the story the Treasury press office were hoping would be leading the news bulletins this morning, not the new benefit cuts).In its news release, the Treasury said:The chancellor will announce a further £2.2bn funding increase for defence from April, as she warns that Britain has to “move quickly in a changing world”.The funding will be invested in advanced technologies so that Britain’s armed forces have the tools they need to compete and win in modern warfare. This includes guaranteeing the investment to fit Royal Navy ships with Directed Energy Weapons by 2027. These weapons can hit a £1 coin from 1km away and take down drones at ...

Politics

5 d. ago UK minister responds to Donald Trump sidekicks' claim Europe is 'pathetic freeloader'

Defence Secretary John Healey said Donald Trump's US administration has 'got a case' after a leaked group chat showed revealed criticism of European nations on defence spending

Politics