Sir Keir Starmer is poised to announce an £18bn increase in defence spending, as he battles to stay in No 10.
While it may not be enough to save his skin at home after a devastating local election, it may just provide a temporary lifeline to the UK’s military which has been whittled to the bone – and bolster its reputation overseas, insiders said.
The uplift, first reported by The Times, comes after national security advisor Jonathan Powell reportedly wrote to the Prime Minister warning that the UK would struggle to maintain its position on the world stage without a significant increase in spending – the UK has set out to spend 2.5 per cent by 2027.
With Starmer under unprecedented pressure at home and abroad, and a leadership challenge looming, the PM’s team will be hoping the defence uplift fulfils his pledge to bolster the UK’s security while creating new jobs at home.
There is evidence to suggest they’re right; data from industry body ADS found that 50,000 additional jobs could be provided by 2035 from an increase in defence spending to 3 per cent of GDP – which the Government has pledged to set out in the next Parliament – rising to 85,000 from a spend of 3.5 per cent.
