Keir Starmer to face PMQs grilling over defence spending hike – and slashing aid budget
In a surprise statement on Tuesday the PM announced he is ramping up defence spending in the face of Russian aggression – the biggest increase since the end of the Cold War.
Mr Starmer warned of a “generational challenge” as he warned it would take a “whole society effort” to prevail. The Prime Minister vowed to spend 2.5% of gross domestic product (GDP) on defence by 2027. This will rise to 3% within a decade, he said.
But the PM faces a backlash after telling MPs he would slash spending on overseas aid to pay for it. Former Labour leadership contender David Miliband, now head of the International Rescue Committee, branded it “a blow to Britain’s proud reputation as a global humanitarian and development leader”.
In a scathing assessment Clare Short, who was international development secretary under Tony Blair, told LabourList: “I am afraid that, in many respects, this is simply not a Labour government.”
