8 h. ago UK yet to commit to Nato plan for rise in defence spending to 3.5% of GDP

Nato chief Mark Rutte wants members to agree to plan at summit later this month but UK remains cautiousBritain has still not committed to agreeing an increase in defence spending to 3.5% of GDP by the mid-2030s at the Nato summit later this month in line with a proposal from the alliance secretary general, Mark Rutte, defence sources said.Though Rutte visited Downing St on Monday and the Nato chief expressed confidence in a speech in London afterwards that countries would sign up, senior insiders complained that Britain was still dragging its heels over the issue. Continue reading...

Politics

14 h. ago Spending review 2025 – live: Rachel Reeves to unveil plans for £600bn budget

Sir Keir Starmer being quizzed at PMQs before chancellor set to outline Labour's spending plans for NHS, housing and defence

Economics

14 h. ago Spending review live: Rachel Reeves to announce how she’ll spend £600bn budget as experts warn of tax hikes

Chancellor to unveil funding boosts for NHS, housing, defence and schools as she outlines Labour's spending plans until next election

Economics

54 h. ago Nato chief Mark Rutte warns UK must spend more on defence or ‘learn to speak Russian’

Nato needs a 400% increase in air and missile defence, Mr Rutte says, warning Russia could be ready to use force against it within five years

Events

56 h. ago Nato chief says UK’s defence spending plans not at odds with 5% goal

Mark Rutte would not reveal the deadline for when he hopes Nato allies will reach the target.

Politics

63 h. ago NATO chief says a '400% increase' in air and missile defence is required to protect Europe from Putin and become 'a more lethal alliance'

NATO head Mark Rutte will on Monday call for a 'quantum leap' in defence capacities including a '400-percent increase' in air and missile defence which 'protects' the alliance against Russia.

Events

7 d. ago NATO chief makes huge demand to UK on defence spending after Donald Trump calls

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte today said allies will find themselves 'in great difficulty' in the coming years if they stick with the current 2% GDP alliance spending target

Politics

7 d. ago Will Nato states have to find $325BILLION a year more for defence? Alliance chief heaps pressure on Starmer saying Europe and Canada must 'equalise' contributions with the US

Nato secretary-general Mark Rutte warned that the current target of spending 2 per cent of GDP on defence is no longer sustainable after very public criticism from Donald Trump.

Economics

8 d. ago Starmer’s defence spending plans under pressure as Nato pushes for more

Sir Keir Starmer will meet Nato leaders later this month with the alliance under pressure to increase spending.

Events

9 d. ago Growing threats, new weapons, more troops: key points of UK’s defence review

The government says the UK must be ready to ‘fight and win’ a full-scale war. Here is a summary of its recommendationsKeir Starmer vows to make Britain ‘battle-ready’ as he unveils defence spending plansA vision of what war between the UK and another state such as Russia would look like is sketched out briefly but starkly on a page of the strategic defence review.Such a conflict could involve attacks on the armed forces in the UK and overseas, air and missile attacks on critical infrastructure, and sabotage and efforts to manipulate information and undermine social cohesion. Continue reading...

Events

9 d. 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

9 d. 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

9 d. ago Starmer defends not putting date on 3% defence spending target as UK to announce plans to build new submarines – politics live

Prime minister to launch strategic defence review in Glasgow this morningHere is the clip of Keir Starmer in his Today programme interview refusing to say when the government will raise defence spending to 3% of GDP.In an interview with the Times published on Saturday John Healey, the defence secretary, said that he had “no doubt” that Britain would reach the 3% target by 2034 – ie, before the end of the next parliament. Yesterday he described this as an “ambition”. Continue reading...

Politics

1 week ago Nato must brace to be attacked by Putin warns Germany's defence chief

Germany's defence chief has starkly warned that NATO should be prepared for a possible attack by Russia in the next four years. 

Events

3 w. ago Donald Trump 'pushes UK to pump billions of pounds more into defence spending' and reach 3% 'ambition' years earlier than PM had planned

The US President is said to want the UK to increase its military budget to 3 per cent of GDP by 2029, which is years earlier than Sir Keir Starmer had been planning.

Politics

3 w. ago The Trump effect: Germany makes bombshell NATO spending announcement following pressure from US president

Germany's new government surprised NATO allies on Thursday by putting forward plans to boost defence spending.

Politics

3 w. ago PGA Championship offer: Get 40/1 on Rory McIlroy to make the cut with Paddy Power

Paddy Power is offering new customers odds of 40/1 odds on a goal to be scored at the Parc des Princes as Arsenal face Paris Saint-Germain

Politics