Sir Keir Starmer slashed the aid budget to fund a dramatic increase in defence spending in response to “tyrant” Vladimir Putin and uncertainty over US President Donald Trump’s commitment to European security. The Prime Minister said spending on defence would rise from its current 2.3% share of the economy to 2.5% in 2027.
That will mean spending £13.4 billion more every year from 2027, something which Sir Keir acknowledged required “extremely difficult and painful choices”. He said he wanted that figure to reach 3% of gross domestic product during the next parliament.
