Keir Starmer is expected to face questions at PMQs today over a massive hike in defence spending – funded by slashing the overseas aid budget.
The PM announced he is ramping up defence spending in the face of Russian aggression – the biggest increase since the end of the Cold War. In a hastily-convened press conference in Downing Street, Mr Starmer admitted he had “accelerated” the decision in the last few weeks. He said: “The reason for this is straightforward: Putin’s aggression does not stop in Ukraine.” And he went on: “We can’t hide from this.”
But aid charities have reacted with fury over the decision to swipe billions of pounds from overseas aid to pay for the increase. Clare Short, international development secretary under Tony Blair, said:“I am afraid in many respects, this is simply not a Labour government.”
It comes as Mr Starmer prepares to jet to Washington DC later today for crunch talks with the US President Donald Trump. It will be the pair’s first meeting since Mr Trump returned to the White House.
Follow live updates from PMQs below
Angela Rayner writes for The Mirror on decision to hike defence spending
“We face a new era of global instability, and this Labour government will meet that threat with a decisive boost in our armed forces,” Deputy PM Angela Rayner says.
“The world has changed. The nature of warfare has changed. The threats we now face are more serious and less predictable than at any time in a generation. At this once in a generation moment, we must step up – and we will. The Prime Minister’s pledge to increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP in 2027 means backing our armed forces after years of hollowing out under the last Conservative government.”
Keir Starmer will travel to Washington DC after PMQs – what you need to know
Keir Starmer will jet to Washington after PMQs for talks with Donald Trump in what is seen as one of the most important UK-US meetings since the Second World War.
The fate of Ukraine and broader European security hangs in the balance after the mercurial President tore up decades of US policy in his quest to broker a deal with Russian tyrant Vladimir Putin. This first visit was always going to be a crucial moment for the Prime Minister but the stakes are now sky-high after the US President spent last week firing attacks at Ukrainian President Voldymyr Zelensky and threatening to abandon Europe.
Here’s what you need to know ahead of Thursday’s crunch talks.
Keir Starmer to face PMQs grilling over defence spending hike – and slashing aid budget
In a surprise statement on Tuesday the PM announced he is ramping up defence spending in the face of Russian aggression – the biggest increase since the end of the Cold War.
Mr Starmer warned of a “generational challenge” as he warned it would take a “whole society effort” to prevail. The Prime Minister vowed to spend 2.5% of gross domestic product (GDP) on defence by 2027. This will rise to 3% within a decade, he said.
But the PM faces a backlash after telling MPs he would slash spending on overseas aid to pay for it. Former Labour leadership contender David Miliband, now head of the International Rescue Committee, branded it “a blow to Britain’s proud reputation as a global humanitarian and development leader”.
In a scathing assessment Clare Short, who was international development secretary under Tony Blair, told LabourList: “I am afraid that, in many respects, this is simply not a Labour government.”