Keir Starmer Tonight stated that Great -Britain enters a 'era of harsh power' while reducing foreign aid to stimulate the expenditure of defense.
The prime minister has announced that the government will satisfy its manifesto to increase the military budget to 2.5 percent of GDP two years earlier – and set a new ambition to hit 3 percent in the first half of the following decade.
It came when Sir Keir is preparing to fly to Washington for crunch conversations with Donald Trump, who told NATO countries that they should spend much more defense if they want to continue to receive from the American military backup.
The boost of £ 6 billion a year by 2027 is a big victory for the Don't Leave Britain Don't leaves Britain. It will be paid by an equivalent reduction in the foreign AID budget of Great -Britain, so that it has been brought to the lowest level since the 1990s.
The relocation caused an angry declaration of charities and Labor MPs, with former Foreign Minister David Miliband warned that it was 'a blow to the proud reputation of Great Britain as a global humanitarian and development leader'.
Charity ActionAid, which works with women and girls who live in poverty, said that it was “deeply shocked and disappointed,” while Waterhulp called the shift in policy a “cruel betrayal” of impoverished people.
Save the Children UK said that it was 'stunned' by the decision of Sir Keir and the label 'a betrayal of the world's most vulnerable children and the national interest of the UK'.
Sir Keir wrote today in the Daily Mail and said that lowering the auxiliary budget “was not an announcement that I make light” because Great -Britain “had a proud tradition as a power for the good in the world.”
Keir Starmer today stated that Great -Britain is introducing a 'era of harsh power' while reducing foreign aid to stimulate the expenditure of defense
A malnourished child in Kenya (file image). The move caused an angry recoil of charities. Charity ActionAid, that works with women and girls who live in poverty, said it was “deeply shocked and disappointed”
Children in Madagascar eat a meal. Save the Children UK said that it was 'stunned' by the decision of Sir Keir and the label 'a betrayal of the world's most vulnerable children and the national interest of the UK'
But he said that the deteriorating world order was a 'generation' -challenging. “The reality of our dangerous new era means that harsh power must now have priority,” he said. “The national security of our country must always come first.”
The prime minister said that Great -Britain cannot 'hide' for the growing threat of Russia and other hostile states. It came as:
- Sir Keir warned that Great -Britain should prepare to go to a war, and said that national security should become a 'whole society voltage'.
- The Prime Minister agreed to form a tang movement with Emmanuel Macron to put pressure on Mr Trump to guarantee an 'American backstop' for every European peace force in Ukraine.
- It turned out that Volodyymyr Zensky is planning to travel to Washington on Friday to meet Mr Trump, with the date proposed by the American side, according to a Ukrainian government source.
- Boris Johnson said that up to 10,000 British troops should be used to keep peace if a truce is agreed.
- Sir Keir revealed that he invited European leaders to London on Sunday for a top to discuss the defense of the continent.
Critics warned tonight that the rise of the Defense spending is not enough at a time when Sir Keir offers to send thousands of troops to act as peacetestists in Ukraine.
Sir Keir with soldiers in Salisbury in August 2022. The Prime Minister warned that Great -Britain should prepare to go to a war foot and says that national security should become a 'whole society'
Former defense minister of Tory, Sir Ben Wallace, described the rise of an extra 0.2 percent of GDP for defense as a “amazing desert of leadership”
President Volodmr Zenskyy with Donald Trump in September 2024. It was planning Zensky to travel to Washington on Friday to meet Mr Trump, with the date proposed by the American side, according to a Ukrainian government source
Former secretary of the Tory Defense Sir Ben Wallace described the rise of an extra 0.2 percent of GDP for defense as a “amazing desert of leadership”. He said that Sir Keir was “tone deaf to the dangers of the world and demand of the United States,” adding: “Such a weak dedication to our safety and nation endangers us all.”
However, the decision to increase expenses to 2.5 percent by 2027 is, however, rather than the target of the previous government of 2030.
Former British army chief Lord Dannatt welcomed the promise as an 'important step in the right direction'. He said that the timing of the announcement would give the prime minister 'a slightly easier ride' if he met Mr Trump in the White House tomorrow.
He added: 'If we are confronted with our most important partner, the US, who want to do less to secure Europe, we have our most important enemy, if you want, Vladimir Putin, a proven aggressor, who continues his war in Ukraine , It is not necessary to realize that we have to spend more on our own defense. '
But it was because the British army was said that it was the 'smiling stock' of NATO, because the outdated guns could not kill Russian or Chinese soldiers who wore an advanced body stretcher.
The army still uses the L115A3 'sniper' rifle, while other forces have updated their kit, said a serving high officer, adding to it: 'The Europeans loved all our kit, but now laugh at it. '
It is thought that Sir Keir made the decision to increase defense fourteen days ago, preparing himself at his meeting with the US president. But it was kept a tight secret, with even some members of the cabinet blind by the announcement yesterday.
Foreign Aid Anneliese Dodds Minister was only told on Monday that her budget would be reduced.
Sir Keir wrote today in the Daily Mail and said that lowering the auxiliary budget “was not an announcement that I make light” because Great -Britain “had a proud tradition as a power for good in the world”
Foreign Aid Anneliese Dodds Minister was only told on Monday that her budget would be cut
The move was welcomed by the US Minister of Defense Pete Hegseeth as a 'strong step of a permanent partner'. But the prime minister was confronted at home with criticism because he claimed that the move would “mean that” every year £ 13.4 billion more is spent on defense from 2027 “. The Institute for Fiscal Studies said that the figure was misleading, because the actual increase was closer to £ 6 billion after inflation.
Government sources accepted that although expenditure in cash will rise by £ 13.4 billion, the real increase is around £ 6 billion.
Auxiliary expenditure is reduced from 0.5 percent of national income to 0.3 percent, which releases £ 6 billion to pay the extra defense issues.
Kemi Badenoch welcomed the move, but urged the prime minister to delete the plan to transfer the Chagos Islands and pay £ 9 billion to retrieve the military base in Diego Garcia. Government sources could not say whether the costs of the deal will come from the defense budget.
