54 h. ago Why is defence such a hard sell? The same reason Starmer is struggling in the polls | Martin Kettle

Decades of failures have left liberal democratic governments unable to command public confidence when it really mattersDefence reviews and foreign policy resets seem to turn up almost as often as the Sussexes’ lifestyle brand relaunches these days. Labour’s strategic defence review this week comes less than two years after the Conservatives’ hardly less detailed defence white paper in July 2023, which in turn was a “refresh” of Boris Johnson’s ambitious integrated review of defence and foreign policy of March 2021. By this measure, it must be doubtful if, come the 2030s, analysts will look back on Keir Starmer and John Healey’s review and say it broke the mould.The Labour government was entitled to try to put its own stamp on defence policy, of course, and its review team of George Robertson, Richard Barrons and Fiona Hill did a good, reasonably independent job. Yet this 2020s pattern of repeated strategic adaptation and refocus feels like the new normal now. It is also true that gr...

Politics

3 d. ago Government ‘confident’ it can implement US deal in time to protect steel sector

UK Steel has urged the Government to ‘apply rocket boosters’ to negotiations.

Politics

3 d. ago John Healey refuses to rule out tax rises to fund £14bn rearmament drive... as Nato prepares to set even HIGHER target of spending 3.5% of GDP on defence

Defence Secretary John Healey insisted he was '100 per cent confident' that the government will be able to ramp up spending to 3 per cent of GDP.

Economics

4 d. ago Rattled Polish PM Donald Tusk calls confidence vote on his pro

Donald Tusk announced the ballot on Tuesday when his political ally, the liberal Warsaw mayor, Rafal Trzaskowski, lost the weekend election to conservative Karol Nawrocki.

Politics

4 d. ago John Healey refuses to rule out tax rises to fund £12bn drive to make Britain 'war

Defence Secretary John Healey insisted he was '100 per cent confident' that the government will be able to ramp up spending to 3 per cent of GDP.

Economics

4 d. ago Donald Tusk will call vote of confidence after Polish election setback

Prime minister seeks to shore up his fragile coalition and vows not to back downDonald Tusk says he will call a vote of confidence in his government to try to shore up support for his coalition after a bruising setback in Poland’s presidential election.In his first public comments since Sunday’s election result was declared, the prime minister sought to regain momentum as he promised to “get to work” and submit a number of draft laws. Continue reading...

Politics

1 week ago Angela Rayner's plot to 'rebuild Labour' being masterminded by her former

Senior Labour figures said friends of the Deputy Prime Minister invited them to help create a 'think-tank' which would 'promote a more confident centre-Left programme within government'.

Politics

2 w. ago AD FEATURE: Estate planning experts explain why now is the time to protect your financial future

ILAWS Scotland share the steps you should take now to prevent future stress

Politics

2 w. ago Government approach to Omagh bomb hearing ‘risks undermining public confidence’

The Omagh Bombing Inquiry, chaired by Lord Turnbull, is holding procedural hearings in Belfast.

Events

3 w. ago Government ‘confident’ it has supplies to keep British Steel blast furnaces lit

Union officials also said they are ‘hopeful’ that the coal and iron ore required at the North Lincolnshire works will arrive within the next 48 hours.

Politics

3 w. ago What is left of Scotland's steel sector can play an important role for years to come

Record View says Keir Starmer is right to ask questions on what happens next for steel in Scotland.

Politics