Defence spending to rise to 2.5% of GDP by 2027, PM says
UK defence spending will rise to 2.5% of GDP by 2027, the prime minister has announced. Sir Keir Starmer made the announcement in an unexpected Commons statement ahead of talks with Donald Trump at the White House.
He tells the Commons: “We will deliver our commitment to spend 2.5% of GDP on defence, but we will bring that forward so we reach that level in 2027.
“And we will maintain that for the rest of this parliament,” Starmer explains this means spending £13.4bn more on defence every year from 2027.
UK must ‘deploy all of our resources’ to ensure security Sir Keir Starmer is on his feet in the Commons, where he is delivering an unexpected statement on defence and security.
The prime minister says “These times demand a united Britain, and we must deploy all of our resources” to ensure security. Starmer says the UK should be “proud of our response” to the war in Ukraine, including British people opening their doors to fleeing Ukrainians.
‘Russia is a menace’
“We should not pretend that any of this has been easy,” he says, noting that British people have felt the impact of the war through rising prices. “Russia is a menace in our waters, in our airspace and on our streets.” He adds that the UK must meet a new global era “together, and with strength”.
Watch live: PM making unexpected defence statement
Sir Keir Starmer is on his feet in the Commons to make a statement on defence and security.
It wasn’t in the diary and has come out of the blue ahead of his trip to the White House for talks with Donald Trump.
Watch live in the stream below or at the top of this page, and we’ll bring you rolling updates throughout.
PM accepts apology from Reynolds for ‘inadvertent errors’
Sir Keir Starmer has accepted an apology from Jonathan Reynolds after the business secretary was accused of misrepresenting his legal career.
Downing Street said Mr Reynolds had written the prime minister a letter of apology.
The prime minister’s spokesman said: “He’s written to the prime minister offering an unreserved apology for inadvertent errors made and he’s provided an explanation and an apology that the prime minister has accepted.
“The prime minister and the business secretary are focused on delivering on the plan for change and delivering on the priorities of British people, driving growth in the economy, and the prime minister looks forward to continuing to work with the business secretary on that agenda.”
Downing Street said there would not be any change to Reynolds’ work while the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) looks into him over accusations he misrepresented his legal career by referring to himself as a solicitor when he had only worked as a trainee.
‘Rumour’ in Commons that aid budget will fall to 0.2% of GDP
As we await Sir Keir Starmer’s statement on the military and defence, MPs are asking the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office questions in the Commons.
Rumours are swirling that the aid budget might be cut to raise defence spending.
The SNP’s Chris Law asks ministers if foreign aid will shrink from 0.5% of GDP to 0.2% to increase defence funding.
Development minister Anneliese Dodds stood up to respond to the question – but did not address the concerns raised by Mr Law.
The UK “temporarily” reduced its aid budget from 0.7% of GDP – the UN target – in 2021.
Labour said it would return to the 0.7% target as soon as the economic situation allows.
Business secretary apologises over claims he exaggerated solicitor qualification
The business secretary has apologised after it emerged he claimed to be a solicitor – despite not finishing his training.
Jonathan Reynolds faced calls to resign after accusations he described himself as a solicitor on several occasions – including on his LinkedIn page, in the Commons and on an old constituency website that is no longer online.
The term solicitor is protected under law, and people can face prosecution for pretending to be one.
Mr Reynolds completed a law course and later began to train as a solicitor, but left the programme to run for parliament.
Speaking to journalists on a trip to India, Mr Reynolds said: “I’ve never presented myself as a qualified solicitor. I have made repeated references to being a trainee solicitor in government press releases, on social media, covered very extensively in the legal press.”
The minister added: “For a speech – and I think a tweet or maybe a Facebook post over a decade ago – I don’t think it’s a huge deal, but I should apologise for that if anyone has misunderstood that, but I don’t think they have.”
Protesters interrupt Steve Reed’s speech at National Farmers’ Union conference The environment secretary’s speech at the National Farmers’ Union (NFU) conference has been interrupted by protesters holding banners.
The banners are not turned towards the camera so we cannot see what they say – but they appear to be about the changes to inheritance tax policy that farmers have been protesting about.
The policy change means farmers will have to pay a 20% inheritance tax on farms worth more than £1m from April 2026 when they were previously exempt.
Steve Reed begins his speech by saying: “Even if the conversation gets difficult, I will always show up to have it because I respect this union and I respect British farming.”
Then, acknowledging the protest, he adds: “I can’t give the answer I know many of you want on inheritance tax but I want you to know that I understand the strength of feeling in the room and in the sector – you can see an example of that right in front of me now.”
He continues: “I’m sorry, it’s a decision that we have had to take.”
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