Sir Keir Starmer has announced plans to increase defence spending to 2.5% of national income by 2027, funded by a reduction in the foreign aid budget. The move aims to address the “dangerous new era” faced by the country, with a significant increase in defence spending from 2.3% of GDP.
The plan will see an additional £13.4bn spent on defence every year from 2027, with the goal of reaching 3% of GDP by the mid-2030s, allowing the armed forces to plan long-term and invest in innovation. The decision has been welcomed by the US administration, but criticized by development charities, who label it a “betrayal” of the world’s most vulnerable children.