The leader-in-waiting knows he needs to plug the gaps in defence spending and the soaring national debt if he’s going to deliver his hopeful vision for the country. Raising capital gains tax won’t touch the sides, and slashing welfare is toxic for Labour. But, there is a case for a ‘compassionate cuts’ agenda, writes James Kirkup

Keir Starmer is due in the Commons amid an outcry over the long-awaited DIP - with critics warning the £15billion funding boost over four years is 'too little too late'.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s ambitious £298-billion Defence Investment Plan (DIP) has sparked a political row after it emerged that nearly £5 billion required to fund the…