Keir Starmer says Britain must be “battle ready” – but with budgets tight and public services already stretched, his big defence push has certainly raised more than a few eyebrows. Is this the security boost the UK needs, or a gamble we can’t afford?
Keir Starmer’s gone full “battle ready” with his latest big reveal – a bold defence shake-up aimed at getting Britain prepped for a more dangerous world – and we want to know what you think of his plans. The idea is to shift the UK to “war-fighting readiness” in response to a resurgent Russia and the not-so-subtle hints from Donald Trump that the US might not be rushing to defend Europe if need be.
The PM stresses the global mood has definitely shifted, but are you convinced this is the right move for Britain right now? Scroll down to take our poll and have your say. Starmer keeps saying that a PM’s first job is to keep the country safe, but with public finances already stretched to the limit, this sort of military investment comes with huge trade-offs. Back in February, he pledged to raise defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027 – by dipping into the foreign aid budget. But this week he refused to spell out how he’d pay for his aim of hitting 3% in the next Parliament.
The Government’s got almost zero wiggle room. Chancellor Rachel Reeves says she won’t raise taxes on working people or go back to austerity – but obviously something’s got to give. After years of Tory austerity, public services are already creaking, with long NHS waits, roads full of potholes and schools literally falling apart. Is Starmer’s defence plan the right priority for Britain right now? Take our poll below. If you can’t see it, click here
And with the Spending Review landing next week, non-protected departments are bracing for more cuts. Some Labour MPs are already fuming over whispers of slashed welfare and winter fuel support. So again – can Britain really afford this defence ramp-up right now?
Paul Johnson from the Institute for Fiscal Studies put it bluntly, saying the only real way to fund the plan is with “really quite chunky tax increases”. But Starmer and Reeves insist there’s an upside – a so-called “defence dividend.” They’re pitching this as not just about security, but also economic revival: thousands of new jobs, re-energised factories, and a shot in the arm for places like Govan, Glasgow – where Starmer unveiled the plans – and other former industrial heartlands where Reform UK is trying to win support.
So what do YOU think? Is Starmer’s defence plan the right priority for Britain right now? Do you buy the promise of a defence-led economic boost, or are you worried about what gets cut to pay for it? Take our poll above and expand on your feelings in the comments below.
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