15 h. ago Trump’s demand that US could take over Ukraine’s reactors is not credible

US president’s plan for American firms to run power plants is unrealistic and is opposed by Putin and ZelenskyyAs a demand, it is Donald Trump at his most confusing. The American president appears, at least according to Marco Rubio, the US secretary of state, to have told Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Wednesday that “American ownership” of Ukraine’s four nuclear power plants would be their best protection in future – although the Ukrainian president said on Thursday that “the issue of property, we did not discuss”.Of the four, the most significant, and the one that Trump has repeatedly referred to in the past week, is the vast, six-reactor Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant. It is Europe’s biggest nuclear generator, located on the southern bank of the Dnipro River. Before the full-scale Russian invasion it produced about 20% of the country’s electricity but it is now on the frontline of Europe’s largest war since 1945. Continue reading...

Politics

18 h. ago Next generation of nuclear deterrent submarines ‘a commitment to defence’

The Prime Minister attended a keel-laying ceremony in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, for the first of the Dreadnought class of submarines.

Events

24 h. ago 'Sorry Emmanuel, can I call you back?': Moment Zelensky leaves Macron red faced by throwing him off the phone after French president called him during a televised press conference

The poorly timed phone call came as British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer prepared to launch construction of the UK's next-generation of nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines

Politics

34 h. ago Submarine building at Barrow a ‘blueprint’ for UK growth, Starmer says

Sir Keir Starmer will lay the keel for the next generation of Britain’s nuclear deterrent submarines when he visits the Cumbrian town on Thursday.

Politics

6 d. ago As Trump and Putin menace Europe, I say this: vive le Churchillo

Our continent must be prepared to defend itself, by combining the best of its two most influential traditionsShould we all be Gaullists now? In the language of France’s most important European partner, the answer is “Jein!” (a German word combining ja for yes and nein for no). Yes, Emmanuel Macron has been right to warn us ever since he became France’s president in 2017 that, discerning a long-term trend of US disengagement, Europe should be ready to defend itself. Now, confronted with Donald Trump, a rogue US president putting in question an 80-year-old American commitment to the defence of Europe against Russia, lifelong Euro-Atlanticists like me must acknowledge that we need not just a Europe with more hard power – something for which I have always argued – but also the real possibility of European “strategic autonomy”. Oui, Monsieur le Président, you were right.Yet en mȇme temps (at the same time), to deploy Macron’s signature trope, we should answer “Non”. For De Gaulle, a grea...

Politics

1 week ago Starmer speaks to EU chiefs after bloc commits to boost European defence

Donald Trump expressed uncertainty that America would come to the aid of other countries in Nato if they do not meeting military spending targets.

Politics

2 w. ago Keir Starmer faces backbench rebellion over ‘shortsighted’ cuts to aid budget

MPs ask ‘what will be left of Labour programme?’ amid calls for rethink and plan to speak out against decisionLabour MP Emily Darlington: ‘International aid is as vital as defence spending – cutting either undermines British security’Keir Starmer is facing a backbench revolt by Labour MPs this week as anger mounts over the government’s decision to cut the international development budget by almost half in order to pay for an increase in defence spending.The Labour chair of the all-party select committee on international development, Sarah Champion, who has already called on the government to rethink the decision, has secured a debate in the Commons on Wednesday at which dozens of Labour backbenchers are considering intervening to express their dismay. Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago Why Highlands needs SNP to stop blocking nuclear power projects

Nuclear-generated electricity is a more climate-friendly route to energy security than fossil fuels

Events

3 w. ago Boost for Starmer ahead of crunch Trump talks: US officials praise UK hiking defence spending to 2.5% of GDP and PM's offer of troops for any Ukraine peace deal

US officials praised the UK's commitment to hike spending on defence to 2.5 per cent of GDP, and the PM's offer of troops for any Ukraine peace deal.

Politics

3 w. ago The US is right that Europe must work more closely together on defence, due to Russia threat

Ian Murray writes on defence spending after the UK government’s commitment was outlined by Sir Keir Starmer

Events

3 w. ago UK politics live: Reeves urges Europe to ‘step up’ defence spending as PM vows 2.5% commitment

UK will increase defence spending to 2.5 per cent by 2027

Politics

3 w. ago This is a hard choice. We believe in foreign aid – but we have to make cuts. We must keep the UK safe | David Lammy

Putin’s Russia is a threat to all Europe, including the UK. Vital aid work will be hit as we spend more on defence, but we must deal with the world as it isThere are moments in history when everything turns, but the extent of change is not perceived until later when the fog has cleared. These are hinge points that require clear leadership and bold action. In the late 1940s, my Labour predecessor and hero Ernie Bevin, alongside Clement Attlee, saw through the fog when they led Britain into Nato and the UN, and secured the development of Britain’s nuclear deterrent. In the 1960s, Harold Wilson saw through the paranoia of the cold war, refusing Lyndon Johnson’s request to send British troops to Vietnam. In the 1990s, Tony Blair understood that unless we stopped the president of Serbia, Slobodan Milošević, there would be no peace in the Balkans.Three years into Vladimir Putin’s brutal war, this is again a hinge point for Britain. Keir Starmer’s commitment to dramatically raise defence s...

Politics

3 w. ago Starmer announces big cut to UK aid budget to boost defence spending

PM confirms rise in military spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027 – three years earlier than plannedUK politics live – latest updatesKeir Starmer has announced drastic cuts to Britain’s international aid budget to help pay for a major increase in defence spending, amid fears over Donald Trump’s commitment to European security.The prime minister said the UK government would increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027 – three years earlier than planned – as he prepared for what is likely to be a diplomatically fraught visit to Washington DC this week. Continue reading...

Economics

3 w. ago Jeremy Hunt says welfare cuts would let Starmer commit to 3% defence spend now

Mr Hunt said the UK raising defence spending to match the US relative to GDP would secure the future of Ukraine and of Nato.

Economics

3 w. ago EU planning to send Ukraine ‘very strong message’ with new aid package – Europe live

Defence commissioner Andrius Kubilius says the EU’s position is ‘very clear’ as the bloc is committed to peace through strength’European Commissioner for defence Andrius Kubilius gets asked about the EU’s plans to support Ukraine.He says that the EU’s position is “very clear,” as the bloc is committed to “peace through strength”.We are informed on that and we know that investigations are going on [by] the authorities, and we will get more information later about this. Continue reading...

Politics

4 w. ago Reeves ‘absolutely committed’ to spending 2.5% of GDP on defence

Chancellor Rachel Reeves said an increase in spending in line with what Labour promised in its manifesto will be done ‘in the proper way’.

Politics