15 h. ago Keir Starmer shrugs off Trump as he prepares to give new aid to Ukraine and sanction Russian oligarchs amid US President's war of words with Volodymyr Zelensky

Sir Keir Starmer is set to announce a new package of support for Ukraine days after Donald Trump branded the Ukrainian president a 'dictator'.

Politics

17 h. ago Starmer to set date to increase defence spending during Trump visit – report

The Prime Minister will also deliver an invitation from the King for a state visit to the UK.

Politics

17 h. ago Starmer set to shackle Britain to EU's rulebook on food safety in return for closer trading ties

UK negotiators have told Eurocrats that Britain is willing to shackle itself to the bloc's rulebook covering food products in exchange for closer trading ties.

Politics

24 h. ago US Senate passes budget resolution to fund Trump’s deportation plan

Bill approving $175bn for border security and extra $150bn for Pentagon faces tough challenge in HouseUS politics live – latest updatesThe US Senate has passed a budget resolution that paves the way for funding Donald Trump’s mass deportation plan after his “border czar” said there were insufficient funds for the operation.A 10-hour marathon session – dubbed a “vote-a-rama” – concluded in the early hours of Friday morning with a 52-48 vote almost entirely on party lines in favor of a spending structure that would see $175bn reserved for border security, including Trump’s prized border wall with Mexico, and a $150bn boost to the Pentagon budget. Continue reading...

Politics

32 h. ago Pressure grows for Starmer to boost defence spending ahead of Trump showdown

PM travels to Washington next week as the only major UK party leader who has not backed calls to hike the defence budget to 2.5 per cent of Britain’s GDP by 2030

Politics

48 h. ago Donald Trump 'spends nearly 1/3 of time' on expensive hobby – not related to presidency

According to a campaign group, recently-inaugurated US President Donald Trump has spent close to 30% of his days on a rather expensive pastime that is not linked to his job

Politics

49 h. ago Trump slams working from home staff for ‘golfing’ despite spending nearly a third of presidency playing golf

Donald Trump hit out a federal workers working from home for “golfing”, despite spending nearly a third of his presidency playing golf.

Politics

54 h. ago Trump slams staff for ‘golfing’ despite spending nearly a third of presidency playing golf

Donald Trump hit out a federal workers working from home for “golfing”, despite spending nearly a third of his presidency playing golf.

Politics

2 d. ago Denmark to spend billions on defence, citing fears over Russian rearmament

Mette Frederiksen says situation is ‘most dangerous’ in many years as she increases defence budget to 3% of GDPMette Frederiksen admitted that Denmark and other countries made a mistake by cutting their defence spending as she announced a 50bn Danish kroner (£5.5bn) package, saying: “It must never happen again.”The Danish prime minister increased defence spending to 3% of GDP in the next two years – up from 2.4% in 2024 – as she said Denmark needed a “massive rearmament” to avoid war. Continue reading...

Economics

2 d. ago Trump goes to war on 'dictator' Zelensky in extraordinary, brutal insult

Donald Trump has issued a warning to Volodymyr Zelensky, calling the Ukrainian leader 'a dictator without elections' and saying he 'better move fast or he is not going to have a country left.'

Politics

3 d. ago Trump goes to war on Zelensky in extraordinary brutal insult

Donald Trump has issued a warning to Volodymyr Zelensky, calling the Ukrainian leader 'a dictator without elections' and saying he 'better move fast or he is not going to have a country left.'

Politics

3 d. ago Record orders at BAE Systems as European defence spending rises

Weapons maker’s full-year pre-tax profits top £3bn and it expects sales of more than £30bn next yearBritain’s biggest weapons manufacturer, BAE Systems, has reported record orders as the European defence industry gears up for increased spending sparked by the Ukraine war.The company, a member of the FTSE 100, said it expected sales next year to top £30bn, as it reported annual profits before interest and tax of more than £3bn for the first time in 2024. Continue reading...

Politics

4 d. ago Cook Islands releases terms of deal with China amid protests about lack of transparency

Agreement includes sections on deep-sea mining and education, document shows, as opposition accuses PM of risking relationship with New ZealandA strategic partnership deal between China and the Cook Islands spans areas from deep-sea mining to education scholarships but excludes security ties, a document released by the Pacific island nation’s government showed.Western nations that traditionally held sway in the region have become increasingly concerned about China’s plans to increase influence after Beijing signed defence, trade and financial deals with Pacific countries in the last three years. Continue reading...

Economics

5 d. ago Lib Dems say Badenoch is echoing Trump’s ‘dangerous rhetoric’ as she claims ‘some cultures better than others’ – UK politics live

Conservative leader of the opposition speaks at right-wing conference in LondonKeir Starmer’s announcement via the Telegraph that he was prepared to put British peacekeeping troops on the ground in Ukraine was also described by Conservative MP and shadow cabinet spokesperson Alicia Kearns as not the right priority. She told viewers of Sky News “his priority should be today talking about defence spending.”It was put to her that by Sky’s Wilfred Frost that “you’re trying to criticise the state of defence spending six months into their government, when this is a long-term issue, after 14 years [of Conservatives being] in power.”I’ve always been very clear. I was critical of my own government. But what I’m saying is, since July, a decision was made to side with the Treasury, to not give the increase in defence spending. We needed to continue to replenish stocks. Replenishing stocks should be the priority so that we are ready if we do need to provide peacekeeping services, if we do need ...

Politics

5 d. ago Which nations ARE pulling their weight in NATO... and who is relying on 'Uncle Sucker' to protect them? Graphic illustrates who is spending on military amid fears Trump could pull out of alliance

The US will 'no longer tolerate an imbalanced relationship' regarding the war in Ukraine, Pete Hegseth said last week as he declared that fellow NATO members should spend more.

Events

5 d. ago Badenoch slams UK’s failure to spend more on defence as Starmer set for emergency Ukraine summit: Live

Badenoch claimed Western civilisation was in crisis as she spoke to global right-wing leaders on Monday

Politics

5 d. ago FTSE 100 Live 17 February: Defence stocks surge, Assura rejects £1.6bn bid approach

Defence stocks including BAE Systems have surged on the outlook for increased spending by NATO allies.

Economics

5 d. ago As the US retreats, Europe must look out for itself – so is Macron’s nuclear offer the answer? | Simon Tisdall

Development of a joint defence shield would be politically explosive for Keir Starmer. But it’s an idea whose time has comeThe startling contempt for Europe’s intensifying security concerns displayed by Donald Trump and his henchmen has brought an old, controversial question back to the fore: should Britain and France pool their nuclear weapons capabilities and create a Europe-wide defensive nuclear shield to deter Vladimir Putin’s Russia, if the US reduces or withdraws its support?Trump has not so far explicitly threatened to cut US nuclear forces based in Europe. But speaking last week, the president said he wanted to halve the US’s defence spending, especially on nuclear weapons. Trump often denigrates Nato, keystone of European security. Last year, he encouraged Russia “to do whatever the hell they want” to member states that, in his view, spend too little on defence. Continue reading...

Politics