32 h. ago UK could face up to £30bn of tax rises to fund defence spending boost, economist says

Sir Keir Starmer has vowed to boost defence spending to 2.7 per cent of GDP by 2027, as Nato allies push for ‘dramatic increase’

Economics

68 h. ago Starmer to meet Nato’s Rutte amid US pressure to spend 5% of GDP on defence – Europe live

US defence secretary Pete Hegseth says there is ‘near consensus’ on funding commitment for Nato member statesUK trade secretary Jonathan Reynolds has also called for reforms of the WTO including changes to the much-criticised dispute resolutions system which can also take years to settle disputes between trading nations.“We do recognise that reforming and repositioning the WTO so that it can respond more effectively to the challenges of today is the only way to safeguard long term stability and growth tomorrow. Continue reading...

Events

4 d. ago Defence investment risks falling short without SME access, warns Scottish engineering leader

As Managing Director of KRG Specialist Engineering, I welcome the UK’s renewed focus on defence funding — but I believe it will not achieve its full potential unless small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are actively included in the process.

Events

4 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 Nato ‘will force Starmer to spend 3.5% of GDP on defence’ to keep Trump happy

PM under pressure from nuclear alliance and US president after row over funding threatened to derail the launch of strategic defence review,

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 Defence secretary fails to rule out tax rises to fund defence spending uplift

While John Healey said he is ‘100 per cent confident’ the defence spending uplift would be achieved, he struggled to say how it would be paid for

Economics

5 d. ago Healey insists defence funding will rise to 3% target to meet review aims

Defence Secretary John Healey said he was ‘100% confident’ spending will rise to 3% of gross domestic product.

Events

5 d. ago Defence Secretary announces £5 billion investment for military drones and lasers

The funding, announced by Defence Secretary John Healey, includes £4 billion for drones and autonomous systems, and an extra £1 billion for lasers to protect British ships and soldiers

Economics

5 d. ago UK to become 'battle ready' with £5 billion investment for military drones and lasers

The funding, announced by Defence Secretary John Healey, includes £4 billion for drones and autonomous systems, and an extra £1 billion for lasers to protect British ships and soldiers

Events

5 d. ago Keir Starmer says 25,000 Scottish defence jobs protected by Labour funding boost as he attacks SNP on Trident

Starmer made the commitment as he launched the Strategic Defence Review at the BAE site in Govan.

Events

6 d. ago UK Defence Secretary accuses SNP of 'student union politics' over defence funding

A row has broken out over a £2.5m grant for a specialist welding centre in Glasgow

Politics

7 d. ago Far right weaponising LGBTQ+ rights in Europe to sow division, campaigners say

At the start of Pride month, groups report rise in hate crimes as politicians use laws and speeches to target trans people in particularFar-right politicians in Europe are weaponising LGBTQ+ rights and sowing divisions that are sending hate crimes soaring, campaigners have said as communities prepare to mark Pride month.For years, countries in Europe were among those at the forefront of advancing rights, making steady progress on issues such as marriage equality, said Katrin Hugendubel of ILGA-Europe, an umbrella organisation that works with more than 700 groups across Europe and central Asia. Continue reading...

Events

7 d. ago UK plans to build six weapons factories to bolster military readiness

Plans for £1.5bn investment in munitions manufacturing response to government’s defence review’s call to boost stockpilesThe UK will spend £1.5bn on building six munitions and energetics factories to “better deter our adversaries” as part of its long-awaited strategic defence review.John Healey, the defence secretary, said the funds formed part of plans for an “always-on” weapons pipeline and would support the procurement of up to 7,000 UK-built long-range weapons. Continue reading...

Events

7 d. ago Government WILL meet its target of hiking defence spending to three per cent of GDP by 2034, Defence Secretary insists

Defence Secretary John Healey has insisted the Government will reach its target of hiking defence spending to three per cent GDP by 2034.

Politics

8 d. ago £1.5bn in extra funding for military homes as part of defence review – Healey

The review, expected soon, will set out the money, which will be put towards work to improve housing and unlock further development.

Economics

3 w. ago MP to launch bill to target superyachts, private jets and fossil fuel producers

Bill would force major polluters to pay into fund for flood defences and home insulation – but has little chance of becoming lawFossil fuel companies and their shareholders and owners of superyachts and private jets should have to pay into a fund for flood defences and home insulation, according to a private member’s bill to be launched on Thursday.The bill is part of a broader movement by campaigners to “make polluters pay”, demanding that oil and gas companies, and those who benefit from fossil fuels, should take on more of the direct responsibility for tackling the climate crisis, rather than funding such measures from general taxation. Continue reading...

Economics

3 w. ago EU chief says row over fishing rights is settled ahead of Starmer's Brexit 'reset' next week but Spain bids to reopen Gibraltar spat

Kaja Kallas said 'we are over the fish' ahead of a major summit in London next week where Sir Keir Starmer hopes to confirm UK firms will join a 150 billion euro joint defence fund.

Politics