64 h. ago Don’t mention the war: in Germany, politicians are hiding the truth about defence spending | Paul Taylor

By centring the discourse on immigration, MPs have handed support to the far right – and hidden a ticking economic timebomb from votersThe candidates to lead Germany’s next government are avoiding telling voters painful truths before Sunday’s crucial general election about Russia’s war in Ukraine, the coming disengagement of the US from Europe and the huge defence funding that is needed. Instead, the debate has largely focused on how to revive the ailing German economy after two years of recession and how to control migration, which has fuelled support for the far-right Alternative für Deutschland.The conservative CDU/CSU leader, Friedrich Merz, has swerved speaking about the need for massive borrowing to pay for a surge in defence spending because many of his supporters oppose extra debt. The Social Democratic (SPD) chancellor, Olaf Scholz, is dodging discussion of sending German troops to Ukraine as part of a possible European security force if a ceasefire agreement is reached bec...

Politics

2 d. ago Revealed: Ukraine peacekeeping plan Sir Keir Starmer will present to Donald Trump

Prime Minister to propose sending 30,000 troops to police Ukraine as part of peacekeeping efforts

Politics

4 d. ago Russia warns it will not accept European peacekeeping troops in Ukraine at truce talks with the US

The comments came after Starmer said that he was ready to send troops to Ukraine as a guarantee of security, while urging a 'backstop' security commitment from the US

Events

4 d. ago Nigel Farage says Tories ‘not on the right in any measurable way’ and calls Labour government ‘miserable’ – UK politics live

Leader of Reform UK criticises Conservatives and ‘declinist’ Labour government in new attacksGood morning, defence secretary John Healey has finished speaking, so I can take a quick pause and actually welcome you to our rolling coverage of UK politics for Tuesday. Here are the headlines Defence secretary John Healey has announced what he described as the most significant defence reform for 50 years, in which reporting lines and budgets will be simplified, and a new “quad” of four senior leaders reporting directly to the minister appointedHealy said there were extraordinary people in the UK’s defence forces, but too often they were hampered by process, and there was a lack of direct accountability. He suggested his changes might bring about up to £10bn in savings to the taxpayer over the next decadeTransport secretary Heidi Alexander has said the UK should not rule out sending troops to Ukraine as part of any future peacekeeping forceThe rate of UK unemployment remained unchanged at ...

Politics

4 d. ago MPs 'likely to get a vote' on sending British troops to Ukraine as peacekeepers to deter future Putin attacks

Sir Keir Starmer takes lead in pledging to deploy UK forces to Ukraine

Politics

4 d. ago Watch live: UK defence secretary John Healey speaks as Europe split over Starmer pledge to send troops to Ukraine

Watch live as UK defence secretary John Healey speaks after a split emerged among European nations over whether to match Sir Keir Starmer’s pledge to send UK troops to Ukraine.

Society

4 d. ago MPs 'likely to get a vote' on sending British troops to Ukraine as peace

Sir Keir Starmer has put Britain in a lead in pledging to deploy UK forces to Ukraine

Politics

5 d. ago Half of Britons back sending British troops to Ukraine, poll reveals

Nearly six in ten (58 per cent) told the YouGov survey that they either 'strongly' support or 'somewhat' back Sir Keir Starmer (pictured) deploying UK troops in the event of a ceasefire deal.

Politics

5 d. ago Trump is not ruling out sending U.S. troops to Ukraine according to his peace envoy

President Donald Trump has not ruled out U.S. troops being used as peacekeepers in Ukraine, envoy Gen. Keith Kellogg said Monday.

Politics

5 d. ago Scottish MPs demand details after Sir Keir Starmer suggests sending troops to Ukraine

The Prime Minister has said the UK and Europe are facing a “generational challenge”

Politics

5 d. ago Scottish Secretary Ian Murray ‘very comfortable’ deploying troops to Ukraine

It comes as a Kremlin insider sensationally claimed Donald Trump has given Russia the "green light" to attack London.

Politics

5 d. ago London markets tick up as Starmer 'ready' to send peacekeeping troops to Ukraine

London markets tick up as Starmer 'ready' to send peacekeeping troops to Ukraine  Yahoo Finance UK

Politics

5 d. ago Scottish Secretary ‘very comfortable’ with sending troops to Ukraine

The Prime Minister announced on Monday he would be open to a peacekeeping force being deployed to uphold any agreement between Ukraine and Russia.

Politics

5 d. ago Do you agree with sending UK peacekeeping troops to Ukraine? Take our poll and have your say

Keir Starmer wants to put British boots on Ukrainian ground to protect peace - but do you think the UK should be getting so involved? And do we really have the manpower to do so?

Politics

5 d. ago 'Britain cannot win any wars. But only a lasting peace is worth winning'

Keir Starmer's decision to send peacekeeping troops to Ukraine is a moral and political win, says Fleet Street Fox. The risk is whether Our Boys are in the way when Putin moves again

Events

5 d. ago Don't let Ukraine become another disaster like Afghanistan: Starmer's warning to Trump as he vows to send in UK troops... and US begins talks with Russia in Saudi Arabia

Keir Starmer made the comparison with the collapse of Kabul in 2021 - which Mr Trump branded 'one of the greatest defeats in American history'.

Events

5 d. ago FTSE 100 LIVE: London markets tick up as Starmer 'ready' to send peacekeeping troops to Ukraine

FTSE 100 LIVE: London markets tick up as Starmer 'ready' to send peacekeeping troops to Ukraine  Yahoo Finance UK

Politics

5 d. ago Starmer warned of ‘considerable cost’ of sending peacekeeping troops to Ukraine

Lord Richard Dannatt said Britain does not have the forces or equipment ‘to put a large force on to the ground for an extended period of time’.

Events

5 d. ago Keir Starmer 'ready' to put troops into Ukraine if peace deal reached, as leaders meet for crisis talks

Prime Minister says UK is ‘ready and willing’ to send peacekeeping troops to Ukraine if a deal is reached to end conflict, as European leaders gather for emergency talks in Paris

Politics