Starmer has just announced that defence spending will rise to 2.5% as a portion of GDP by 2027 in the Commons today. Three years earlier than planned…
That’s £13.4 billion more on defence every year from 2027, which will be partially funded by cutting the UK’s foreign aid budget from 0.5% of gross national income to 0.3%. Though Starmer admitted that intelligence and security service spending is now included in the defence budget…
He then told MPs that he wants defence spending to rise to 3% of GDP in the next parliament, whilst also promising to strengthen relationships with “both sides of the Atlantic”. Just before his showdown meeting with Trump on Thursday…
In Henry Mance’s piece today for the FT, lunching with Nigel Farage:
“Splendido!” Farage says, when the drinks arrive; I suppose it’s a step to European reconciliation. We clink glasses, and he lights the first of two back-to-back Benson & Hedges. A few minutes later, we’re back downstairs. “Are you drinking? Good.” He orders a glass of Sauvignon blanc for each of us — not a bottle, “because it’s Lent” — followed by a bottle of claret, to have with our meal. They say Farage drinks less than he used to. They say a lot of things.”