Today13:13 BSTDefence spending is 'number one priority,' says StarmerDefence will be “a number one priority” at the next spending review, Sir Keir Starmer said.Asked about John Healey’s criticism of defence funding, the Prime Minister told the BBC: “We have another spending review coming up and before the end of this Parliament, and defence will be a number one priority in that space.”He also denied this was a promise of “jam tomorrow”, saying: “It’s very important that when I make commitments on something as important as defence that I’m able to point to what the funding is.”He added: “I’ve tackled it head on and I have taken the decision to reallocate from other departments. That’s not easy.”Today13:12 BSTStarmer vows to fight in any Labour leadership contest Keir Starmer vowed to fight in any Labour leadership contest.He said: "I don't think it should happen, but if it does then I will fight. And let me just be clear with you."That's not about personal vanity."It's not about stubbornness. It's out of a very deep sense of duty."Today13:10 BSTStarmer points to UK's role in 'coalition of the willing' Sir Keir Starmer said he disagreed with former senior military figures who said the Government was not spending enough on defence.Asked about comments by General Sir Richard Barrons and General Sir James Everard about funding and Britain’s standing in Nato, the Prime Minister told the BBC: “I have the highest respect for the individuals that you have quoted, but I don’t agree.“These are hard-edged decisions and we are seen as a leading member of Nato.”Sir Keir pointed to the UK’s role in the “coalition of the willing” formulating security guarantees for Ukraine, and the Anglo-French coalition planning for a deployment to the Strait of Hormuz.Today13:09 BST'We're living in volatile world," says StarmerKeir Starmer admitted "we're living in a very volatile world" and this needed "hard-edged decision.Speaking to the BBC, he continued: "Defence and security are my number one priority.""It's my number one priority. I have taken the difficult decisions to make sure we are safe as a country."Today13:07 BST'I've made hard-edged decisions' on funding defence, says StarmerPrime Minister Keir Starmer said he took "hard-edged decisions to increase defence spending.Speaking to BBC political editor Chris Mason, he said he did not want the country to head into the "chaos" of a leadership election.But he vowed to fight if it did happen.The PM added he had taken "hard-edged" decisions to increase defence spending and that it would be the "number one priority at every spending review."Today13:00 BSTDowning street denies it is 'putting off' tough decisions Downing Street denied that it was “putting off” tough decisions on funding defence.Asked whether the Government was putting off such decisions by “backloading” commitments on spending, a No10 spokeswoman said: “No, I reject that.“And I would just remind you of what our commitments are on defence spending: increasing defence spending to 2.6 per cent next year, with the aim of increasing it to 3 per cent in the next Parliament when fiscal conditions allow.“So we have committed to that and we’re also committed to the Nato target of reaching 3.5 per cent of GDP by 2035.”Today12:49 BSTDefence Investment Plan still being finalised, says Downing StreetThe Defence Investment Plan is still being finalised with the Defence Secretary, Downing Street has said.A No10 spokeswoman would not be drawn on whether Dan Jarvis had asked for or been offered more funding as a condition of him taking up the role.The spokeswoman said: “Work to finalise the Defence Investment Plan continues at pace with the new Defence Secretary and the Prime Minister has been clear that he is determined to publish it before the Nato summit in July.”Asked whether the numbers given to John Healey on Monday were “set in stone”, the spokeswoman repeated her answer.Asked whether the Prime Minister and the Chancellor were agreed on the amount of funding the plan needed, she said: “The Prime Minister has been working with his team on this plan for months.”She added: “No one’s shying away from the fact that this is about hard decisions, and we’re looking at a 10-year period ahead, and we must take the time to get that right, and that is what we are doing.”Jarvis said the plan was still being finalised(Image: Richard Townshend Photography)Today12:41 BSTNo10 says defence plan will involve 'significant re-allocations' of cashMirror Political Editor Lizzy Buchan writes.Funding the defence investment plan (DIP) will involve “significant re-allocations” of cash from other departments, Downing Street has said.The Prime Minister’s deputy spokeswoman said the increase must be “sustainable and fair” - and “the right choices to protect our national interest”.She refused to be drawn on when it would be published, saying: “Work to finalise the Defence Investment Plan continues at pace with the new Defence Secretary and the Prime Minister has been clear that he is determined to publish it before the Nato summit in July.”No10 also denied it was “putting off” tough decisions by backloading its spending commitments. The spokeswoman said: "I would just remind you of what our commitments are on defence spending: increasing defence spending to 2.6% next year, with the aim of increasing it to 3% in the next Parliament when fiscal conditions allow.“So we have committed to that and we’re also committed to the Nato target of reaching 3.5% of GDP by 2035.”Today12:14 BSTHow much does UK spend on defence? Government spending on the military, equipment and operations hit £64 billion in 2024-25.It represents about 5.5 per cent of Government spending and 2.2 per cent of GDP, making it the highest spent on defence since 2011-12.Today11:55 BST'Countries investing in defence get to write the rules,' says CarnsLabour MP Al Carns said it is important the UK invests in defence to protect the country and "write the rules" of the world.In a post shared on X/Twitter, he said: "Every war now shows up on your energy bill."Defence isn't separate from the economy any more. It is the economy."And the countries that invest in it get to write the rules. Everyone else lives by them."Content cannot be displayed without consentToday11:37 BSTUK has been 'living a lie' on defence, says ex-MP who served with NATOFormer MP Madeleine Moon, who also served as president of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly said the UK has been "living a lie" on defence "for a long time."Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live presenter Nicky Campbell, she said: "Nicky, we are at war every day."She added: "Defence is not just a case of skies, water and boots on the ground" - she describes it as multi-layered."She added defence has been underfunded for a long time and is now weak.Today11:16 BST'Defence of nation is first duty of government,' says Jarvis New Defence Secretary Dan Jarvis has shared a statement after being appointed to the position.He said: "The defence of our nation is the first duty of government."Our Armed Forces carry out that duty every day with professionalism, courage, and extraordinary skill."It is a huge honour and a privilege to serve alongside them again."Content cannot be displayed without consentToday10:57 BSTWhat Keir Starmer has said about defence spendingKeir Starmer last night said he had been "proud of our record on funding" in a letter to John Healey following the shock resignation.The Prime Minister said the defence investment plan would be able to "provide the resources our military needs to keep us safe."But Starmer has not yet responded to the stunning resignation of Al Carns as armed forces minister.Today10:45 BSTLammy announces major expansion of 'tough love' punishmentDavid Lammy has announced a major expansion of “tough love” problem-solving courts to steer women away from a life of crime.The deputy PM - who is also the Justice Secretary - is unveiling plans to double the number of Intensive Supervision Courts (ISC) to cut reoffending and improve family relationships.ISCs force offenders to attend weekly sessions and regularly appear before the same judge who will track their behaviour. Failure to attend meetings can be punished with prison. There are currently five ISCs across the country but a £9million funding boost will take this figure to 11 by 2029, with a total of six to be dedicated to women.In an interview with The Mirror, Mr Lammy said the ISCs are in no way easier than prison sentences but are a form of “punishment that works”. He said: “There's nothing easy about being gripped by a judge, having to meet the obligations to attend alcohol or drug addiction supervision, knowing that if you slip up, you are going to go to prison and you could serve 28 days, for example, in prison… This is not easy. It's actually quite tough. Some might call it tough love.”READ MORE: Heroin addict stole £35million in decades-long crime spree as 'tough love' punishment expandedDavid Lammy said ISCs are in no way easier than prison sentences(Image: Emma Trimble / SWNS)Today10:21 BSTYouth hubs in every area to 'turbocharge' end to NEETs crisisYoung Brits will be get “turbocharged” employment support with almost 360 youth hubs to tackle the Neet crisis.Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden vowed to build a “system for everyone”, with centres less than an hour away from any young person who needs them. Inspired by the Dutch model, these will include wraparound services such as health, housing, and wellbeing support, and are inspired by a similar model used in the Netherlands.The Netherlands has one of the world's lowest NEET (not in education, employment, or training) rates - 4.9 per cent among 18 to 24-year-olds, compared to the UK's 13.5 per cent.Speaking with the Mirror on a trip to Rotterdam to learn about the Dutch success, Mr McFadden said: “We've started on this road, we've got over 100 youth [hubs] at the moment, but I am convinced that we need to turbocharge this with the roll out of many more Dutch style youth hubs in the UK.READ MORE: Youth hubs in every area to 'turbocharge' end to NEETs crisisToday10:05 BSTStarmer holds meeting amid intense pressureKeir Starmer has been keen to project unity following a series of resignations that could see him toppled as Prime Minsiter.Starmer met with Defence Secretary and chief of defence staff Richard Knighton following the resignations of Al Carns and John Healey.Starmer is keen to project unity amid speculation a leadership challenge could unseat himToday09:46 BSTStarmer meets with Jarvis and armed forces chief Keir Starmer met with new Defence Secretary Dan Jarvis and chief of defence staff Sir Richard Knighton in Number 10 this morning.Starmer mets with the armed forces boss and new defence secretaryToday09:28 BSTStarmer and Jarvis must 'steady the ship,' says Carns Al Carns said Sir Keir Starmer and new Defence Secretary Dan Jarvis now had to “steady the ship”.The former armed forces minister told GB News: “The PM needs to stay, we need to steady the ship.“Dan Jarvis has gone into defence as the Secretary of State, he is a good man, Parachute Regiment background, a good soldier in his day he will have a good hand in steadying the portfolio.“We need to get the transformation into the defence investment plan and we need the Government to find more resource to move this forward as fast as we can.”Today09:19 BSTDan Jarvis arrives in Downing Street after being named Defence SecretaryDan Jarvis arrived in Downing Street after being named Defence Secretary following John Healey's resignation.Dan Jarvis was appointed Defence Secretary following John Healey's resignationToday09:07 BSTUK must 'move forward to win next war,' Carns saysAl Carns said there were problems with both the level of funding and the type of equipment being bought for the military.He told GB News that the lessons of the war in Ukraine were not being learned.“I want to see a higher percentage for uncrewed systems, AI, data – data is the new gunpowder – and we’ve got to move that forward if we are going to win the next war,” he said.On funding, he said “the Government needs to move on that” but the defence investment plan was not “transformative enough”.“I understand why No 10 would have pushed back a little bit but I also recognise that No 10 needs to ease and put more money into defence,” he said.“But we have got to buy the right kit, not the wrong kit or legacy systems that will not serve our soldiers, sailors and airmen and women well in the next conflict.”Armed Forces Minister Al Carns has been rumoured as a leadership hopeful(Image: PA)Today08:57 BST'Bold and courageous decisions' needed from Starmer to fund defence, says Carns Al Carns said “bold and courageous decisions” were needed from Sir Keir Starmer to fund defence.He said: “It is down to the Prime Minister to make his decisions where he wants to prioritise his spending.“What I would say is there are two things: we need to have a really honest conversation with the population about the threats that we face, and then we need really bold and courageous decisions to put the funding in the right place.”He suggested that there should be welfare reform to help fund defence.The former armed forces minister told BBC Radio 4’s Today: “There is an argument around welfare.“I’m a firm believer that it’s about hands up, not hand out.“But we need to help the people who need the most help within the nation, but also get the balance right across defence.“That’s a difficult circle to square, as we’re finding.”Today08:48 BSTAl Carns hints at welfare spending cut to fund defence spendingAl Carns - who quit as Armed Forces minister last night - suggests the welfare bill should be slashed to fund defence spending.He told BBC Radio 4: “We've got to find more money. Where that comes from is down to the Prime Minister. There is an argument around welfare. I'm a firm believer that it's about hands up, not hand out.“But we need to help the people who need the most help within the nation, but also get the balance right across defence. That's a difficult circle to square, as we're finding.”Al Carns quit as UK Armed Forces minister(Image: Getty Images)Today08:37 BSTAl Carns does not rule out potential Labour leadership bidAl Carns, who quit as armed forces minister on Thursday, did not rule out a potential bid for the Labour leadership and the keys to No 10.Asked if his was a resignation due to a matter of principle or because of his ambition, he told BBC Radio 4’s Today: “People get confused about ambition and service. My whole career has been put to service.“If I wanted to be ambitious, I wouldn’t have got into politics. If I wanted to make more money, I wouldn’t have got into politics.“I left the military not because my career was faltering, but because I decided I wanted to make change, because I think we’re a pivotal moment in the history of the United Kingdom.“So, this is about service to me. I’ve been really clear.“I haven’t even received my P45 from the last job yet and we’ll see what happens in the future.”Today08:33 BSTHow will Britain's defence spending increases be funded?Mirror Political Correspondent Sophie Huskisson writes in…The big question hanging over the crisis in defence spending is: If we are to hike military cash, how will it be funded?Downing Street and the Treasury are steadfast in their position that they will not sign off defence spending increases if they are funded in an irresponsible way. Keir Starmer hit out at John Healey - who quit as Defence Secretary - last night in a letter after his resignation, telling him: “Strong public finances are part of what keeps us safe - irresponsible borrowing only puts that at risk."Tax rises, spending cuts or increasing borrowing are the Chancellor's main options to fund an increase. On Wednesday, at PMQs, Mr Starmer twice failed to rule out tax hikes to fund the Government’s long-delayed defence investment plan (DIP). Rachel Reeves the day before had admitted the “money has to come from somewhere”.I spoke to one economic expert earlier this week who warned that if the DIP is exposing funding gaps, there needs to be a “national conversation” on how to fund the 3.5 per cent uplift by 2035. To get an idea of the scale of that increase, which is about £30-40billion a year, it would mean an extra £500 per person in taxes if it was funded through the tax rise route.The figure floating around the DIP at the moment is more like £13.5billion (which Mr Healey was unhappy with). Even for this, No10 is imposing cuts on government departments to fund it.Business Secretary Peter Kyle confirmed he will be making cuts to contribute to defence spending. He said he “made the decision within seconds of being asked”. The question is whether other departments were so quick to take the blow - and if the PM is to heed calls to hike defence spending further, where will the extra money come from?Healey hit out at Starmer's military spending plans(Image: Getty Images)Today08:24 BSTKeir Starmer hits back at John Healey's dramatic resignation with defence spending vowKeir Starmer has insisted he will deliver "an unprecedented increase in defence spending" after John Healey dramatically quit as Defence Secretary earlier today.Mr Healey lashed out at the Prime Minister and Chancellor Rachel Reeves - saying long-delayed plans for military investment would leave the armed forces vulnerable and make Britain less safe. And the PM faced a second resignation later on Thursday with a ministerial aide in the Ministry of Defence following her boss out the door.But in a letter responding to Mr Healey's resignation, Mr Starmer suggested he was wrong to criticise the Government's commitment to defence spending, saying the Defence Investment Plan (DIP) will "provide the resources our military need to keep us safe".He said the plans are backed by "necessary investment", adding that the DIP will be underpinned by "sustainable and fair" increases in spending. The PM added: "Strong public finances are part of what keeps us safe - irresponsible borrowing only puts that at risk."READ MORE: Keir Starmer hits back at John Healey's dramatic resignation with defence spending vowToday08:14 BSTChancellor admits Iran war is hitting UK economy Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves acknowledged the war in the Middle East was hitting the economy.She said: “Before the conflict in the Middle East, growth was higher than expected and inflation was falling. This is not a war we wanted or joined, but one that will have an impact at home.“Our economic plan is the right one, with both the IMF and OECD upgrading their forecasts for growth recently.“The choices I have made as Chancellor mean our economy is in a stronger position to deal with the costs of the war, and we are getting on with the job of building a stronger and more secure economy.”Chancellor Rachel Reeves said the war in Iran had an impact on the UK economy(Image: Anadolu, Anadolu via Getty Images)Today08:09 BSTEconomy contracts amid war with Iran, heaping more pressure on Starmer The UK economy contracted by 0.1 per cent in April, the Office for National Statistics said.Today08:03 BSTBusiness secretary says he is not 'blindly loyal' to Keir Starmer Business Secretary Peter Kyle said he was not “blindly loyal” to Sir Keir Starmer but the Prime Minister had earned his support.Mr Kyle told Sky News: “It is a purpose that brought me into politics, not a person.“That purpose is to get growth into our economy, to make sure the hard work is rewarded anybody who should get on in life and has the aptitude to get on in life and the approach to get on in life should be able to be rewarded for it.“We need to make sure we have a country that is respected around the world, and public services that are there for everyone, because they’re too often not.“This is the mission that I came into politics in order to deliver and Keir Starmer has delivered on these things.“He has earned my loyalty. I’m not blindly loyal to him. He has earned my loyalty, because we are aligned in the purpose of this government.”Pete Kyle said he had not been "blindly loyal" to Starmer(Image: Ian Vogler / Daily Mirror)Today08:01 BSTDan Jarvis appointed Defence Secretary hours after John Healey's shock resignationDan Jarvis has been appointed as the new Defence Secretary after John Healey's bombshell resignation.The Security Minister was handed the top Cabinet post nearly nine hours after Mr Healey quit with a blistering takedown of the Government's defence spending plans.His shock departure triggered a crisis in the Ministry of Defence, with Armed Forces Minister Al Carns following him out of the door. Mr Carns told the PM he could not defend “a level of investment I know to be inadequate to the task”.Ministerial aides Pamela Nash and Rachel Hopkins are also said to have quit tonight.READ MORE: Dan Jarvis appointed Defence Secretary hours after John Healey's shock resignationDan Jarvis has stepped in as Defence SecretaryToday08:01 BSTBusiness secretary insists Starmer has shown 'remarkable purpose' in defence spending approachBusiness Secretary Peter Kyle has insisted Keir Starmer has shown “remarkable purpose” in his approach to increasing defence spending. He pointed to the resignation of Anneliese Dodds as International Development minister last year over cuts to foreign aid to fund defence.Mr Kyle told Sky News the Government will increase defence spending to 3 per cent of GDP in the early period of the next Parliament and 3.5 per cent by 2035.He also said any increases to spending needed to be funded responsibly, adding: “If we did it in a way that was irresponsible, then you'd end up impacting the growth of our economy and it would be a zero sum game. It would be fool's gold if we did so in an irresponsible way. We are doing it in a responsible way that drives growth into our economy.“And also, don't forget, we are designing a highly complex plan and we want to make sure it benefits British jobs, British businesses so that it builds the resilience of our economy as well as the resilience of our defence. These are highly, highly challenging things.“And the Prime Minister, you know, has led through this in a steadfast way since the start. Don't forget, last year somebody resigned from Cabinet simply because of the way that he was increasing and the speed and the manner in which he was increasing money in defence. So these are challenging things, and he has shown quite remarkable purpose in the way that he's done.”‌