15 h. ago Starmer: No tax rises on working people to reach 5% defence spending pledge

He said the current commitment to get defence spending up to 2.5% of GDP was coming from cuts to overseas development aid.

Economics

15 h. ago Starmer leaves door open for tax rises to fund rise in defence spending

IFS director Paul Johnson warned that the £30bn increase in defence spending would need to be funded by tax rises

Economics

15 h. ago Keir Starmer won't say where £30BILLION A YEAR of extra defence cash will come from as he joins Nato summit vowing to hit target for spending 3.5% of GDP

Keir Starmer insisted the government will say 'precisely' how it will fund the goal of spending 3.5 per cent of GDP on defence at a later stage.

Economics

19 h. ago Brace yourself for MORE tax rises as Keir Starmer ploughs billions into defence and the NHS and Labour backbenchers rebel over welfare cuts to pay for it

The PM will join fellow Nato leaders in The Hague today after signing up to the goal of spending 3.5 per cent of GDP on defence.

Economics

19 h. ago Keir Starmer heads for crucial Nato summit TODAY vowing to hit new target for spending 3.5% of GDP on defence... but ministers refuse to say where the extra £30BILLION is coming from

Keir Starmer will join fellow leaders from the military alliance in The Hague after signing up to the goal of spending 3.5 per cent of GDP on defence.

Politics

20 h. ago Minister defends Liz Kendall’s handling of welfare reform brief despite major rebellion before vote – UK politics live

Pat McFadden insists welfare reform change vote will go ahead as planned but says party will ‘engage with’ rebelsLabour MPs launch major rebellion to stop welfare billA senior minister in the UK government has said the country is “not starting from zero” when it comes to raising defence spending to 5% of GDP.Speaking on the BBC, Pat McFadden said one of the earliest actions of his party, which came to power of 2024, was to increase defence expenditure to 2.5% of GDP over the next couple of years.She has been central to the development of these reforms.She has argued for them, not as a difficult choice, but as the right choice, because she believes in a welfare state that should be there for people. Continue reading...

Politics

21 h. ago Armed by America: how Europe’s militaries depend on the US – a visual analysis

The EU wants independence on defence but it is buying thousands of weapons from the US each yearEuropean leaders will meet with Donald Trump at a Nato summit on Tuesday, as the alliance prepares to approve a significant boost to defence spending. A new target for every member to spend 5% of GDP – more than double Nato’s current benchmark – marks a major win for the US president, who has long railed against America footing the bill for Europe’s security.That concern is now increasingly mutual. European governments are pursuing an unprecedented push for military independence, amid fears the US is no longer a reliable ally. Continue reading...

Events

23 h. ago Nato members willingly increasing defence spending amid rising threat from Russia, says Rutte

Exclusive: As alliance members arrive at The Hague summit, secretary general says Moscow capable of launching attack within three to five yearsMark Rutte, Nato’s secretary general, said it was “not a difficult thing” to get members to agree to raise defence spending to 5% of GDP because of the rising threat from Russia – and stressed that Trump remained “absolutely” committed to supporting the alliance.In an interview on the eve of the western alliance’s summit, Rutte told the Guardian that all 32 members had agreed to increase defence spending because “there is so much at stake” after Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine. Continue reading...

Events

24 h. ago Trump’s strikes on Iran could upend delicate plans for NATO summit deal on defense spending

NATO leaders hoping summit will result in commitment to spending 5 percent of GDP on defense amid threats from Russia

Politics

29 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

31 h. ago UK to spend 5% of GDP on security as wars rage in Europe and Middle East, says Starmer ahead of Nato summit

The Prime Minister stressed Britain has been plunged into an ‘era of radical uncertainty’ by growing threats

Events

31 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

31 h. ago Starmer to commit to spending 5% of GDP on defence by 2035 at Nato summit

The figure is in line with the demands of President Donald Trump, who has called for Nato allies to shoulder more of the burden of European defence.

Politics

36 h. ago Defence spending target of 5% GDP a ‘quantum leap’ in security, says Nato’s Rutte– Europe live

Ukrainian president to hold talks with UK PM after meeting with kingFor more updates on the Israel-Iran war, including US president Donald Trump’s call to “make Iran great again”, you can also follow our live blog here run by Jane Clinton:Let’s stop for a moment on that question of the EU-Israel association agreement, which sees Spain calling for immediate suspension of the deal, while Germany appears to be distancing itself from it. Continue reading...

Events

42 h. ago UK steps closer to WW3 as NATO doubles defence spending in move similar to WW1 prelude

NATO allies have agreed to commit to spending 5% of GDP on defence spending and related infrastructure by 2035, according to Sky News, which cited two sources with knowledge of discussions.

Politics

5 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

5 d. ago Spain rejects NATO’s anticipated defense spending increase as 'unreasonable'

Spain has rejected a NATO proposal to spend 5% of GDP on defense needs that’s expected to be announced next week, calling it “unreasonable.”

Events

5 d. ago Spain threatens to block NATO 5% defence spending target in snub to alliance chief who demanded nations boost spending

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte is pushing bloc members to boost their defence spending to 5% GDP by 2032, after Trump declared America's allies were shirking their responsibilities

Events

5 d. ago Spanish PM rejects Nato’s ‘unreasonable’ 5% GDP target for defence spending – Europe live

Pedro Sánchez reportedly says move would be ‘counterproductive’ and harm Spanish economy Earlier today, I cheekily suggested that Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy is probably wondering how to persuade US president Donald Trump to stay at the Nato summit in The Hague next week long enough to get to discussions on Ukraine and Russia – and not leave early, as he did at the G7 summit.Well, looks like this issue may have actually influenced the planning.“Budapest city hall will organise the Budapest Pride march on 28 June as a city event. Period.” Continue reading...

Events

1 week ago Reeves pours cold water on Nato demands for more defence spending making clear it WON'T go over 2.5% of GDP before 2029 and hinting 3% will be the limit in the next Parliament

Chancellor Rachel Reeves stressed that Labour had only committed to hitting 2.5 per cent of GDP in the current Parliament.

Politics