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.
That will mean spending £13.4 billion more every year from 2027, something which Sir Keir acknowledged required “extremely difficult and painful choices”.
The Prime Minister said spending on defence would rise from its current 2.3% share of the economy to 2.5% in 2027.
He said he wanted that figure to reach 3% of gross domestic product during the next parliament.
