1 hour ago Starmer accused of defence spend ‘cover up’ in row over how £9bn Chagos deal is funded

The PM said the uplift would boost ‘our capability on defence and security in Europe’, but stopped short of ruling out using defence cash to fund Chagos deal

Economics

1 hour ago Russia accuses UK and France of ‘heating up’ Ukraine war amid defence push

The accusation comes as the Prime Minister flies to the US to meet Donald Trump after promising a dramatic increase in defence spending.

Events

4 h. ago Keir Starmer FAILS to rule out Labour's defence spending boost being used to fund £9billion deal to hand Chagos Islands to Mauritius

The Prime Minister has announced that Britain's defence spending will rise from its current 2.3 per cent of GDP to 2.5 per cent in 2027.

Economics

4 h. ago Defence spending numbers defended by Starmer amid ‘silly games’ criticism

Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch pressed the Prime Minister in the Commons over the spending increase and his plan for Ukraine.

Politics

5 h. ago John Swinney makes Trident nuclear deterrent declaration after Sir Keir Starmer defence spending decision

It came as the First Minister backed an increase in defence spending announced by Sir Keir Starmer

Events

5 h. ago Nuclear weapons provide 'no tangible benefit' to Scotland's security, insists John Swinney

The First Minister backed Keir Starmer's decision to increase UK defence spending but said cash should be spent on "conventional" weapons instead of nukes.

Events

5 h. ago PMQs live: Starmer mocks Badenoch’s ‘desperate search for relevance’ in clash over defence spending boost

PM set to discuss increase to 2.5 per cent by 2027

Politics

5 h. ago Keir Starmer quietly dismantles Kemi Badenoch's 'desperate search for relevance' with savage putdown

Tory leader Kemi Badenoch tried to claim credit for the PM's plan to boost defence spending - claiming she'd made the suggestion over the weekend and saying it was the quickest response she'd ever had from No10

Politics

5 h. ago Swinney says SNP right to oppose Trident as he welcomes defence spending boost

But the Scottish First Minister said it is the ‘wrong choice’ to fund increased spending by slashing international aid.

Politics

5 h. ago Vladimir Putin mouthpiece says UK 'perfect' target for nuclear weapons in rant

Vladimir Putin's propagandists have threatened to test nuclear weapons on Britain in response to Keir Starmer's announcement yesterday that the Government will spend 2.5% of GDP on defence by 2027

Events

6 h. ago Rachel Reeves warns European allies that global trade is at risk unless they follow UK's new ambition to spend 3% of GDP on defence as she attends G20 in South Africa

Chancellor Rachel Reeves will insist Western powers must 'step up and do more' or face huge penalties from disruption to trade.

Events

6 h. ago A Bangladesh 'shrimp health' study, a Porsche deal for Albanian prisons and 'inclusion' in the DRC: How foreign aid is spent amid Labour row over using cash for defence instead

Sir Keir said defence spending would rise to 2.5 per cent of GDP by 2027 in the wake of the Trump administration's decision to leave Europe to fend for itself and move closer to Russia .

Economics

6 h. ago PMQs live: Starmer to be grilled over defence spending ahead of US visit for crunch Trump talks

PM set to discuss increase to 2.5 per cent by 2027

Politics

6 h. ago Starmer accused of fiddling the figures on defence spend increase

The defence secretary admitted Sir Keir’s figures were misleading as the Tories demand Labour to be ‘straight about the facts’

Politics

6 h. ago Starmer’s cuts are a huge mistake – foreign aid is an investment, not an expense | Halima Begum

At the height of the cold war, the west advanced its soft power through aid and development spending. If we cut that now, who will fill the vacuum?Halima Begum is the chief executive of Oxfam GBThe savagely deep cuts that Keir Starmer has announced to the international aid budget make a mockery of the pledge his party made to the British people in its manifesto. Then, it promised to restore development spending at the level of 0.7% of gross national income “as soon as fiscal circumstances allow”. On Tuesday the prime minister stood in front of parliament and announced that he will cut it from 0.5% to 0.3% of GDP. In the same manifesto, Labour made a commitment to “rebuild Britain’s reputation on international development with a new approach based on genuine respect and partnership with the global south”. This week, the government turned its back on it.Of course, I understand the argument that defence spending has to be increased, but cutting our aid budget still further when governm...

Politics

8 h. ago Healey suggests defence spending increase ‘something over £6bn’, not £13.4bn

It comes after the PM told the Commons: ‘Let me spell it out, that means spending £13.4 billion more on defence every year from 2027.’

Economics

9 h. ago UK politics live: Labour deny Trump is reason for Starmer’s defence spending boost

UK will increase defence spending to 2.5 per cent by 2027

Politics

9 h. ago Can Starmer charm Trump? PM heads for the US TODAY armed with defence spending boost as Western alliance hangs in the balance

Keir Starmer will fly to Washington later as he braces for a crucial meeting tomorrow where he will urge Donald Trump to stand by Nato and Ukraine.

Politics

9 h. ago Keir Starmer says 'dangerous new era' forced decision for 'biggest rise' in defence spending since the Cold War

The Prime Minister said ‘extremely difficult and painful choices’ would be needed to reach the spending goal, including a cut to foreign aid

Events

10 h. ago UK politics live: Reeves urges Europe to ‘step up’ defence spending as PM vows 2.5% commitment

UK will increase defence spending to 2.5 per cent by 2027

Politics