6 h. ago Keir Starmer heads to Nato summit where he will vow to spend 5% of GDP on defence

Sir Keir Starmer's pledge to increase defence and security spending to 5 per cent of GDP by 2035 was last night branded 'a con'.

Politics

8 h. ago Starmer pledges to spend 5% of GDP on national security and defence by 2035

But Downing Street will not say how the new NATO commitment demanded by Donald Trump will be paid for by the UK taxpayer

Events

8 h. ago LIZZY BUCHAN: Keir Starmer heads to NATO summit as Middle East teeters on the brink

With the situation on the ground changing by the minute, Keir Starmer will push for a diplomatic solution as Iran and Israel exchange fire and Donald Trump weighs up his next move

Politics

3 d. ago Assisted dying set to become law in England and Wales after bill passed by MPs

Terminally ill people with less than six months to live will have right to choose procedure after approval from doctors and panelUK politics live – latest updatesAssisted dying is set to become law after a historic vote in parliament, as MPs passed Kim Leadbeater’s bill by 314 to 291 votes, a majority of 23, to legalise the procedure for terminally ill people.Keir Starmer backed the bill, which will head to the House of Lords, though peers are not expected to block its progress. Continue reading...

Events

4 d. ago Spain rejects Nato plan for member states to spend 5% of GDP on defence

PM Pedro Sánchez says he wants a ‘more flexible formula’ that would make target optional or allow Madrid to opt outSpain’s prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, has rejected Nato’s proposal for member states to increase their defence spending to 5% of their GDP, saying the idea would “not only be unreasonable but also counterproductive”.Sánchez said that he was not seeking to complicate next week’s Nato summit in The Hague, but he wanted there to be a “more flexible formula” that would either make the target optional or allow Spain to opt out. Continue reading...

Politics

7 d. ago Grooming gang ringleader who Keir Starmer helped jail in 2012 has STILL not been deported back to Pakistan after winning human rights battle

As Director of Public Prosecutions between 2008 and 2013 - before entering politics - Sir Keir Starmer insists he tackled Asian child abuse rings 'head on'.

Events

8 d. ago Keir Starmer in diplomatic push to head off Middle East crisis before G7 summit in Canada

PM to discuss Israel and Iran clashes with Mark Carney and expected to talk to leaders of US, France and GermanyMiddle East crisis – live updatesKeir Starmer is beginning an urgent diplomatic push to try to head off the crisis in the Middle East, as the Foreign Office warned Britons not to travel to Israel after further retaliatory attacks by Iran.Downing Street did not rule out the possibility of having to evacuate UK nationals from Israel if matters deteriorated, saying officials were keeping all contingency plans “under constant review”. Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago UK faces calls for 5% GDP defence spend, ahead of PM’s meeting with Nato chief

Mark Rutte, the secretary general of the alliance, said on Thursday he is proposing Nato members spend 5% of gross domestic product (GDP) on defence.

Politics

2 w. ago Keir Starmer to meet head of Nato amid speculation over spending commitments

Mark Rutte will visit Sheffield Forgemasters with Defence Secretary John Healey, and give a speech at Chatham House.

Politics

2 w. 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

2 w. ago NATO nations must spend 5% GDP on defence and end 'reliance' on US to defend them, Pete Hegseth tells meeting of alliance chiefs

'Our message is going to continue to be clear. It's deterrence and peace through strength, but it can't be reliance,' Hegseth said at a meeting with counterparts in Brussels.

Politics

2 w. ago Head of Nato suggests alliance should look to ‘equalise’ US defence contribution

Mark Rutte said allies will find themselves ‘in great difficulty’ if the current 2% GDP spending target is maintained.

Politics

2 w. ago Keir Starmer 'picks money man RAF chief to head UK Armed Forces' as he launches push to get Britain 'war

Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Knighton, an RAF engineer, is reportedly in line to be the next Chief of Defence Staff.

Events

2 w. ago UK set to back Nato push for members to spend 3.5% of GDP on defence

Commitment to new target expected at summit despite fresh questions for Keir Starmer over funding

Politics

2 w. 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

3 w. ago Defending Britain with the magic money tree? Starmer warned he faces hiking taxes to get the country 'war

Keir Starmer has heralded a strategic review of the UK's military, promising investment in new submarines, munitions and personnel.

Events

3 w. ago Starmer claims he's making Britain ready for WAR as UK faces 'new nuclear risks' and 'Russian aggression'... but he won't say how he will pay for it

Keir Starmer is heralding a strategic review of the UK's military, promising investment in new submarines, munitions and personnel.

Events

3 w. ago UK on track to spend 3% of GDP on defence by 2034, says Healey

The Defence Secretary has promised a ‘certain decade of rising defence spending’.

Politics