Slashing benefits in favour of defence will make millions less, not more, safe, says Guardian columnist Frances Ryan

We won the peace through spending on defence. When deterrence fails (as in 1939), the costs in lives and living standards are enormous.

Government departments are looking at cutting their budgets further in order to help fund defence, a cabinet minister has said.

The offer made by Sir Keir Starmer to increase defence spending by £13.5billion over the next four years would have left the MoD without enough money for its existing equipment…

Slashing benefits in favour of defence will make millions less, not more, safe, says Guardian columnist Frances Ryan

Air chief marshal Sir Richard Knighton, chief of the defence staff, warned that operations will have to be ‘dialled back’ unless new money is found

The head of the UK's Armed Forces has laid bare the reality of Sir Keir Starmer's defence policy - that current spending projections will result in fewer military operations and…