9 d. ago Rachel Reeves allocates £2.2bn to turn UK into a 'defence superpower'

The Chancellor promised to spend 'a minimum of 10 per cent' of the Ministry of Defence's equipment budget on 'novel technologies' such as artificial intelligence and drones.

Economics

1 week ago Spring statement in full: Watch Rachel Reeves announce benefits cuts and £2.2bn defence boost

Watch as Rachel Reeves delivers her spring statement on the state of the UK economy on Wednesday, 26 March.

Economics

1 week ago Reeves puts £2.2bn more into defence spending with cash for drones, AI and better homes for soldiers in Spring Statement amid Armed Forces pressure from Trump and Russia

The Chancellor said the UK must 'move quickly in a changing world' to up its defence commitment in her Spring Statement in the Commons.

Events

1 week ago Rachel Reeves announces Glasgow will share £2.2bn defence spending increase

The UK Chancellor announced more funding for cutting edge technologies such as drones and AI as the country ramps up military spending.

Economics

1 week ago Reeves puts £2.2bn more into defence spending with cash for drones, AI and better homes for soldiers in Spring Statement amid Armed Forces  pressure from Trump and Russia

The Chancellor said the UK must 'move quickly in a changing world' to up its defence commitment in her Spring Statement in the Commons.

Events

1 week ago Spring statement livestream: Rachel Reeves announces deeper benefits cuts and £2.2bn defence boost

Watch live as Rachel Reeves delivers her spring statement on the state of the UK economy on Wednesday, 26 March.

Economics

1 week ago Further welfare cuts expected as Rachel Reeves prepares to deliver spring statement – UK politics live

Keir Starmer will face Kemi Badenoch at PMQs before the chancellor delivers her spring statement John Healey, the defence secretary, has been doing an interview round this morning because overnight the Treasury briefed journalists that Rachel Reeves will announce an extra £2.2bn in defence spending from April in the spring statement. (Presumably that was the story the Treasury press office were hoping would be leading the news bulletins this morning, not the new benefit cuts).In its news release, the Treasury said:The chancellor will announce a further £2.2bn funding increase for defence from April, as she warns that Britain has to “move quickly in a changing world”.The funding will be invested in advanced technologies so that Britain’s armed forces have the tools they need to compete and win in modern warfare. This includes guaranteeing the investment to fit Royal Navy ships with Directed Energy Weapons by 2027. These weapons can hit a £1 coin from 1km away and take down drones at ...

Politics

1 week ago Budget 2025 latest: Reeves boosts defence spending by £2.2bn as more benefit cuts foreshadowed

The Chancellor of the Exchequer is under pressure to deliver in her spring statement

Economics

1 week ago Reeves to unveil £2.2bn UK defence spending boost in Spring Statement

Money for increase from April will come from aid budget and backup funds

Economics

3 w. ago Rachel Reeves unveils £2bn boost for UK defence sector amid 'new era of security'

Chancellor in Scotland to announce move aimed at “strengthening our national defence, kickstarting economic growth and delivering the stability we need to keep us safe”

Economics

3 w. ago Rachel Reeves to visit Scotland today to announce £2bn defence boost

The Chancellor is visiting a defence company in Fife as she announces an increase to UK Export Finance's Direct Lending capacity for defence.

Economics

3 w. ago Donald Trump's chilling threat to Vladimir Putin over Ukraine ceasefire in FULL

With a pause in the fighting in Ukraine looking likely, Donald Trump has increased the intensity of the pressure on Russia with an astonishing threat about money

Politics