62 h. ago Norway urged to drop ‘crazy’ ban on investment in defence companies

Opposition leader vows to overturn rule barring $1.8tn fund from holding stakes in defence sector if her party wins election

Politics

7 d. ago Remainers unite! MPs lash out at 'unmitigated disaster' of Brexit and urge Starmer to get closer with 'reset' in Commons debate over petition to rejoin the EU

They urged Sir Keir Starmer to get Britain back into a much closer relationship with Brussels under his planned 'reset', with some setting their sights on rejoining.

Events

8 d. ago Rachel Reeves denies pursuing austerity as axe set to fall on Civil Service

It comes after a backlash to cuts to welfare spending and a decision to slash the aid budget to fund a boost to defence spending

Politics

8 d. ago Rachel Reeves denies Labour is pursuing austerity ahead of spring statement

It comes after a backlash to cuts to welfare spending and a decision to slash the aid budget to fund a boost to defence spending.

Politics

9 d. ago Rachel Reeves denies Labour is pursuing austerity as Civil Service cuts confirmed

It comes after a backlash to cuts to welfare spending and a decision to slash the aid budget to fund a boost to defence spending.

Politics

1 week ago Britain 'must pay BILLIONS of pounds into EU defence fund' for UK firms to get contracts

Miguel Berger said the UK must pay its 'share' if it wants to be part of the Security Action for Europe (SAFE) initiative.

Economics

1 week ago So much for the Brexit 'reset'! EU 'will shut UK out of €150 billion defence fund unless fisheries deal is agreed' amid fury at 'puerile' French action

European Commission proposals, published yesterday, set out strict rules for the bloc's new Security Action for Europe (SAFE) initiative.

Economics

1 week ago Reeves should bend fiscal rules and borrow to fund defence, says Labour grandee

The current military threat in Europe demands Britain and its allies do whatever is needed to restore security, said Lord Hain.

Politics

1 week ago UK Treasury omits defence from National Wealth Fund priority sectors

Decision comes even as government joins other European countries in seeking to raise military spending

Economics

2 w. ago Germany passes huge spending package amid Ukraine fears as White House says Trump

US and Russian presidents speak on phone as Bundestag votes to release a €500bn infrastructure fund to boost German defenceTrump and Putin to hold high-stakes call on UkraineSpeaking for the Greens, who are expected to back the CDU/CSU and the SPD today after a political deal struck late last week, Britta Haßelmann offered her support for the proposal – even as she sharply criticised Merz’s change of heart on this issue in recent weeks.Rejecting Merz’s comments about the new, challenging global circumstances, he said “the conditions are no different than they were on 1 January or in October last year,” after Trump was elected. Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago Countries must bolster climate efforts or risk war, Cop30 chief executive warns

Ana Toni also criticises the UK’s plans to slash overseas aid to fund defence spendingCountries looking to boost their national security through rearmament or increased defence spending must also bolster their climate efforts or face more wars in the future, one of the leaders of the next UN climate summit has warned.Some countries could decide to include climate spending in their defence budgets, suggested Ana Toni, Brazil’s chief executive of the Cop30 summit. Continue reading...

Events

2 w. ago Putin 'doesn't need Trump's ceasefire because he is winning in Ukraine' and he 'will find it difficult to agree', claims Kremlin in devastating blow to peace deal

News of Russian gains in the embattled Kursk region came hours after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Kyiv had accepted a 30-day ceasefire proposed by Washington

Politics

2 w. ago Putin's fury at Trump's ceasefire deal for Ukraine: Vladimir 'will find it difficult to agree' to proposal because his army is rapidly advancing, Kremlin source admits

News of Russian gains in the embattled Kursk region came hours after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Kyiv had accepted a 30-day ceasefire proposed by Washington

Politics

3 w. ago Keir Starmer defends planned welfare cuts to anxious Labour MPs

Prime minister wants to reform disability benefit payments to help fund greater spending on defence

Politics

3 w. ago Germany’s Greens vow to block Merz’s flagship spending package

Party officials reject €500bn infrastructure fund plan and change to debt borrowing rules to fund defence spending

Politics

3 w. ago Disability benefits likely to be cut to fund increases to defence spending, warns top economist

A leading economist says the chancellor is likely to make spending cuts rather than increases to tax to pay for defence spending.

Events

3 w. ago Labour MPs urge British banks and fund managers to no longer class defence investments as 'unethical' as they bid to boost support for Ukraine

In an open letter, the group of parliamentarians demanded a 'rethink' of environmental, social and governance (ESG) frameworks for investing.

Economics

3 w. ago Labour MP says Starmer ‘taking the axe’ to UK’s aid budget to fund defence

Labour MP for Rotherham Sarah Champion also said a ‘scandalously large amount of ODA’ had been spent ‘on domestic refugee costs’.

Economics

3 w. ago ‘I don’t want my sons in fatigues’ – Jess Phillips defends aid cuts

The minister was asked about the Government’s decision to cut overseas aid to fund a boost to defence spending.

Politics

3 w. ago Starmer faces growing concerns from MPs over ‘brutal’ cuts to foreign aid budget

Sir Keir Starmer is facing increasing pressure from MPs over his decision to cut the overseas aid budget to fund an increase in defence spending

Politics