Sir Keir Starmer will use his crucial talks with US president Donald Trump to demand a US backstop for Ukraine in order to deter further Russian aggression.
The prime minister has made clear that he will stand up to Mr Trump on the issue of Ukraine as he flies to Washington DC for one of the most consequential meetings ever between the White House and Downing Street.
Speaking to journalists on the plane to the US, Sir Keir said he will insist that Russian president Vladimir Putin must be seen as the aggressor and that negotiations for Ukraine’s future must involve Kyiv.
On Sunday, Sir Keir will host the leaders of France, Germany, Italy and Poland to discuss a response to Mr Trump’s push for a peace settlement, as Kyiv and its allies scramble to secure more control over negotiations.
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky is also planning to attend the talks in London.
Earlier on Wednesday, Sir Keir declined to say whether money for a deal with the Chagos Islands would come out of the increase in defence spending.
He told the Commons the increase was for “our capability on defence” and that the controversial deal with Mauritius was “extremely important” for national security.
Key Points
- Starmer to face up to Trump over Ukraine role in peace talks
- Zelensky joins UK meeting of European leaders
- Starmer takes the gloves off with Badenoch
- Rachel Reeves urges Europe to raise defence spending
- Ukraine agrees to minerals deal with the US amid plans for peace talks
Starmer to face up to Trump over Ukraine role in peace talks
22:31 , Alex CroftKeir Starmer has made it clear he intends to stand up to Donald Trump over Ukraine as he jets over to Washington DC for one of the most consequential meetings ever between a US president and British prime minister.
Speaking to journalists on the flight over the Atlantic, Sir Keir insisted that Russia’s Vladimir Putin has to be viewed as the aggressor.
He will make clear that there can be no negotiations about Ukraine without Ukraine, and will push for Europe to play a greater part in global defence.
However, in a challenging meeting which will also encompass awkward conversations on plans to hand the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, trade deals and a potential visit by President Trump, Sir Keir was keen to talk up the relationship between the two.
Tory MP accuses Starmer and Trump of ‘unimaginable damage’ over foreign aid cuts
21:35 , Jane Dalton
Rory Stewart says Starmer and Trump both responsible for ‘unimaginable damage’
Lammy admits Trump can veto Chagos deal
20:45 , Jane Dalton
Lammy admits Trump can veto Chagos deal as president prepares to confront Starmer
Opinon: How we should spend defence budget to be safer
20:15 , Jane Dalton
The defence hike is prompting fantasies about new kit – what we need is more soldiers
Priti Patel accuses Labour of 'surrender' over Chagos
19:45 , Jane DaltonShadow foreign secretary Dame Priti Patel has accused Labour of putting forward a “surrender” deal as she moved a Commons motion calling for greater transparency on the Chagos Islands negotiations.
The Opposition motion asks the Government to release a chronology of negotiations between the Government and Mauritius since July last year.
It also asks ministers to explain how the deal will be funded, the involvement of Attorney General Lord Hermer and why the Government sought to accelerate negotiations.
Asked why she was criticising a deal when the Tories started the negotiations, Dame Priti told the Commons: “It’s not the Conservative Party that’s putting forward a surrender deal. We’re not surrendering our territory or sovereignty in any way whatsoever.”
Starmer accused of ‘cover-up’ in row over £9bn Chagos funding
19:17 , Jane Dalton
Starmer accused of defence spend ‘cover-up’ in row over £9bn Chagos deal funding
Briton running Ukraine drone factory calls for UK government funds
18:55 , Jane DaltonA British volunteer who runs a drone factory in Ukraine is appealing to the UK government for funding after a visit from a group of cross-party MPs.
Richard Woodruff, from East Sussex, who has been based in Lviv in western Ukraine since 2022, says his kamikaze drones have destroyed more than £79m worth of Russian equipment in a year.
Crowdfunded by private donations, the 7in-to10in first-person view (FPV) drones, armed with explosives, carry out targeted attacks on military equipment and supplies.
The 31-year-old said he was encouraged by a visit from a group of cross-party MPs who travelled to Lviv over the weekend.
Mr Woodruff said the 14 MPs, including representatives from Labour, the Scottish National Party (SNP), the Liberal Democrats and Conservatives, pledged to lobby for backing from the UK Government to support the factory’s drone production efforts.
More than 1,000 UK staff cut from Ukraine troop scheme
18:35 , Jane DaltonThe number of British personnel working on an international training program for Ukrainian soldiers has fallen by more than 1,000 in the last 2.5 years, new figures reveal:
1,000 UK staff cut from key Ukraine defence programme, new figures reveal
Chagos deal must have Trump backing, says minister
18:05 , Jane DaltonThe Chagos Islands deal will not go ahead without the backing of US president Donald Trump, foreign secretary David Lammy has said.
He told ITV’s Peston: “If President Trump doesn’t like the deal, the deal will not go forward.
“The reason for that is because we have a shared military and intelligence interest with the United States, and of course they’ve got to be happy with the deal, or there is no deal.”
Ukrainian refugees could be housed in Roman Abramovich properties
17:50 , Jane DaltonUsing properties owned by sanctioned Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich to house Ukrainian refugees will be looked at by officials, a foreign office minister has said.
Responding to the proposal, Labour frontbencher Baroness Chapman of Darlington said it was “an interesting idea” and committed to take it back to her department for it to be explored by civil servants.
The suggestion was made after Foreign Secretary David Lammy said the UK and its European allies should move from freezing Russian assets to seizing them, with the proceeds used to assist Ukraine.
In Parliament, Labour peer Lord Brooke of Alverthorpe said: “Many of the assets which are frozen are properties. Many of those properties are empty.
“I look across the Thames and see a great building where Abramovich had floors in the building.
“Will the Government explore the possibility of using those empty buildings, and in particular using them for Ukrainians and immigration?”
Zelensky joins UK meeting on European leaders
17:02 , Jane DaltonUkrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky plans to join a gathering of European leaders in the UK this weekend to discuss defence and security.
Sir Keir Starmer will on Sunday host the leaders of Italy, Germany, Poland and other allies to discuss their response to Donald Trump's push for peace in Ukraine that has forced a radical rethink of the continent's security.
Cabinet united over cutting aid to boost defence, Rayner insists
16:38Angela Rayner has said the Cabinet is united in its decision to increase defence spending while cutting the UK’s aid budget.
The Deputy Prime Minister said: “No-one could have predicted the situation we are in in Europe at the moment, and, of course, it was absolutely right that the Prime Minister said that we had to increase defence spending because the number one responsibility of any government is to keep people safe.
“It is devastating that we’ve had to reduce the overseas aid budget, but we had to set a balanced budget.
“We understand the economy was in a very difficult position after 14 years of the Tories, and we’ve taken the decisive action to protect our country and to make sure that the economy is in a strong position, so that going forward we can increase the budget for overseas aid as the money becomes available.
“The Cabinet had a discussion on it and we were all united that the number one responsibility of any government is to keep its citizens safe.”
Russia accuses UK and France of ‘heating up’ Ukraine war amid defence push
16:14 , Holly EvansThe UK and France are “heating up the conflict” in Ukraine rather than seeking peace, Russia has suggested as Sir Keir Starmer travels to the US for crunch talks with Donald Trump.
The Prime Minister also hit back against accusations the Government was playing “silly games” over the amount of extra funding which will be raised for Britain’s defence.
Sir Keir announced the extra funding in response to “tyrant” Russian President Vladimir Putin and ongoing uncertainty over the US’s commitment to European security, although it comes at the expense of cuts to the UK’s aid budget.
Speaking during a visit to Qatar, Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov claimed European nations, including the UK, were now seeking to prolong the war in Ukraine.
“The approach that is being imposed by the Europeans, first of all France and the British, is aimed… at heating up the conflict further and stopping any attempts to calm it down,” he said, according to a translation from Russia’s state news agency, Tass.
Making the world’s most defenceless people pay for UK defence is reprehensible
16:00 , Holly EvansDonald Trump’s race to the bottom on international development has an energetic new entrant in the form of Keir Starmer. The prime minister has raided the UK aid budget, in a move that would have embarrassed some of his recent predecessors, so he can commit to increasing defence spending ahead of his White House meeting. It is now some of the world’s most defenceless people who will pay for the UK’s defence.
As if to underscore the extent to which the US president has turned the established order on its head, we were treated to the strange sight of the prime minister being applauded by the leader of the opposition, while Reform complained noisily about Labour stealing their flagship policies.
Read the full opinion article from Christian Aid boss Patrick Watt here:
Making the world’s most defenceless people pay for UK defence is reprehensible
PM departs for Washington DC
15:45 , Holly EvansSir Keir Starmer’s plane has departed for Washington DC from a London airport, and is due to land at Joint Base Andrews in about eight hours.
He is due to meet the US president at the White House tomorrow.
Also onboard is our political editor David Maddox, who will be bringing us all the latest over the next 24 hours as Trump and Starmer discuss the future of Ukraine and Europe’s security.
Lib Dems accuse Tories of 'scaremongering' over pint under threat claims
15:32 , Holly EvansDaisy Cooper, deputy leader of the Liberal Democrats, has said the Tories’ claim that the pint is under threat is “scaremongering” and “total nonsense”.
She told MPs: “What on earth is this absurd idea in the Opposition day motion that the Product Regulation and Metrology Bill will somehow put the British pint under threat?
“The pint is well and truly safe, something that I’m sure this entire House wants to hear. The pint is enshrined in law, in the Weights and Measures Act, so this scaremongering is just total nonsense. I would be tempted to call it a load of old codswallop but I would not want to insult the makers of that very fine pale ale.
“I could instead accuse them of scraping the barrel but let us just say that the Conservatives’ claim that the pint will be abolished is as fanciful as Labour’s claim that punters will see a penny taken off the price of their pint. They won’t. Frankly, if the Opposition think that they are standing up for pubs, they need to think again.”
More than 1,000 British staff cut from key Ukraine troop training programme
15:08 , Holly EvansThe number of British personnel working on an international training program for Ukrainian soldiers has fallen by more than 1,000 in the last 2.5 years, new figures reveal.
The decline marks a 73 per cent reduction in the UK staffing of the British-led Operation Interflex that has trained over 51,000 Ukrainian soldiers to resist Vladimir Putin’s invasion.
It comes as Britain and its European allies scramble to bolster their own defences amid mounting pressure from Donald Trump and stark warnings about their defence capabilities.
Read the full exclusive from Millie Cooke here:
1,000 UK staff cut from key Ukraine defence programme, new figures reveal
British firms not swayed by US push to scrap diversity goals, says minister
15:03 , Holly EvansThe UK’s employment rights minister has said he does not expect British businesses to follow the lead of US rivals scrapping diversity goals despite concerns following Donald Trump’s presidency in the US.
Labour MP Justin Madders said UK firms have their “own approach” to equality, amid pressure from the American government to scale back initiatives.
“There’s obviously an extra level of dialogue going on in terms of internal company discussions but I think the commitment and the benefits are very clearly laid out and I don’t see UK companies going down that road,” he said.
Several large businesses in the US, including Google, Meta, Amazon and McDonald’s, have scaled back their diversity programmes following Mr Trump’s presidential election victory.
Mr Trump signed a flurry of executive orders after being sworn in last month, including dialling back transgender protections and ending federal government diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programmes.
But on Tuesday, Apple shareholders rejected a proposal calling on the technology giant to join Mr Trump’s push to abandon programmes designed to diversify workforces.
Europe cannot sustain 100,000-strong Ukraine peacekeeping force, former British army chief warns
14:51 , Holly EvansEuropean nations would have to send at least 100,000 troops to keep the peace in Ukraine and “none of them can do it”, a former head of the British armed forces has warned.
General Lord Richards called for Nato countries to be “very grown up” and “live within what is physically and militarily possible”, rather than “what our political leaders sometimes would aspire to do”.
The former chief of the defence staff warned it is “inevitable” that Russia will seek to test any defence force placed in Ukraine in the event of a deal to end the war. “If we send troops, they will be tested, and they have to robustly be able to defend themselves,” Lord Richards told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme.
Read the full article here:
Europe cannot sustain massive Ukraine peacekeeping force, former army chief warns
Badenoch suggests 'cover-up' of Chagos money deal
14:39 , Holly EvansSpeaking after Prime Minister’s Questions, a spokesman for Mrs Badenoch said: “I think this all points to what amounts to really a cover-up of where this money for the Chagos surrender is coming from.
“It is incumbent on the Government as soon as possible to come and explain where the money is coming from, and if it is coming from the defence budget it makes all of the announcements over the last 24 hours seem (to be) ringing increasingly hollow.”
On Tuesday a Conservative former defence minister suggested that money earmarked for the Chagos deal could instead be spent on the armed forces.
Andrew Murrison asked the Prime Minister: “Will he look at other things that perhaps present easier choices, and in particular, his choice to spend billions of pounds on Mauritius? And will he repurpose that money in defence of our armed forces?”
Starmer declines to say whether defence spending increase includes Chagos cash
14:24 , Holly EvansSir Keir Starmer has declined to say whether money for a deal with the Chagos Islands would come out of the increase in defence spending.
The Prime Minister told the Commons that the increase to 2.5% of GDP announced on Tuesday is for “our capability on defence and security in Europe”, and described the deal being negotiated with Mauritius as “extremely important for our security”.
The UK is in talks with Mauritius about handing over sovereignty of the British Indian Ocean Territory, but leasing back the strategically important Diego Garcia military base which is used by the US.
The Conservatives have called on ministers to explain as soon as possible if money for the deal will come out of the uplift announced on Tuesday.
Earlier on Wednesday, Defence Secretary John Healey did not say whether the Chagos money was included when asked, and the issue was pressed by Kemi Badenoch at Prime Minister’s Questions.
Watch: Diane Abbott rebukes Keir Starmer over foreign aid cut
14:04 , Holly EvansDominic Cummings backs Reform UK for local elections
14:03 , Holly EvansDominic Cummings has called for voters to back Nigel Farage’s Reform UK in the May local elections. The former Boris Johnson aide did not say who he would vote for if there was an imminent general election.
But, amid a furious backlash at Labour’s policies so far, he said everyone should back Mr Farage’s party in May.
Asked who he would vote for in a national election, Mr Cummings said: “Dunno yet, but obviously everyone should vote Reform this spring, no downsides, just upsides.”
A mass Reform vote, with the party surging in the polls, would pile major pressure on Sir Keir Starmer while helping Mr Farage paint his party as the real opposition to Labour.
Seven organisations face government contract ban
13:22 , Jane Dalton
Seven organisations face government contract ban over Grenfell Tower tragedy
Seven companies face new Grenfell probe
13:18 , Jane DaltonInvestigations will be launched into seven organisations criticised in the Grenfell Tower Inquiry report, with the potential they could be banned from public contracts in future.
They are: Arconic Architectural Products SAS; Saint-Gobain Construction Products UK Limited which previously owned Celotex Limited; Exova (UK) Limited; Harley Facades Limited; Kingspan Insulation Limited; Rydon Maintenance Limited; and Studio E Architects Limited.
Cabinet Office parliamentary secretary Georgia Gould said the firms would be investigated under new debarment powers in the Procurement Act 2023, which came into effect on Monday.
She said: “These investigations will establish whether the organisations have engaged in professional misconduct for the purposes of that Act.”
The organisations will be notified when an investigation is opened, she said, adding that investigations into other organisations could also take place.
Government to take 'tough action' to avoid future tragedies
12:55 , Holly EvansAngela Rayner, who is also Housing Secretary, said: ”We are acting on all of the inquiry’s findings, and today set out our full response, detailing the tough action we are taking to drive change and reform the system to ensure no community will ever have to face a tragedy like Grenfell ever again.
“That means greater accountability, stronger regulation, and putting residents at the heart of decision-making.
“We must deliver the fundamental change required. We owe that to the Grenfell community, to the country, and to the memory of those who lost their lives.”
Grenfell Next of Kin, a group representing some of the bereaved, said it will be “paying close attention to these words and intentions” from Government, as it repeated criticism of the “grave mistakes, failures, corruption” it said had led to the deaths.
The group: “We can never forget our beloved kin and we can never forgive the negligence and corruption that led to their deaths.
“The injustice is so great and the measures being put in place now with new laws and reforms are welcomed, but should have been basic requirements for a developed country such as ours.
“Nevertheless let’s move forward in the right direction.”
'Every single death was avoidable', Rayner stresses
12:51 , Holly EvansOffering her condolences to the families of the victims and the survivors of the deadly blaze, Angela Rayner stresses that the inquiry concluded that “every single death was avoidable”.
"The inquiry uncovered serial incompetence and negligence, complacency and inaction - and blatant dishonesty and greed."
She also added that to her “disgust and their shame”, several of those companies involved had shown “little remorse” and had failed to rectify the issues in the construction of the tower.
The deputy prime minister announced plans to appoint a single construction regulator and a chief construction advisor and added that new powers will be used to investigate a number of firms.
Grenfell Tower fire was a 'national tragedy that must never happen again'
12:47 , Holly EvansReferring to the inquiry report that was published in September, Angela Rayner said: “All members of the house will have shared my anger of its shocking findings.”
Referring to the “damning evidence or political, corporate and individual failings going back decades”, she described it as “a deadly betrayal, a national tragedy that must never happen again”.
“I will repeat today what the prime minister said in September, to the bereaved families, the survivors and those in the Grenfell community, on behalf of the government and the British state and those responsible, I am very sorry.”
She said that the inquiry report made 58 recommendations, 37 of which were directed at the government, all of which will be taken forward.
Angela Rayner delivers statement on Grenfell
12:44 , Holly EvansDeputy prime minister Angela Rayner is now delivering a statement on the Grenfell Tower inquiry.
She said the tragedy, which killed 72 people in 2017 in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, must be the catalyst for “long-lasting, systemic change”.
Putin has made Nato 'stronger and larger', PM says
12:42 , Holly EvansWhen asked by former chancellor Jeremy Hunt if the UK would increase defence spending to 3 per cent, Starmer said: "I agree with him entirely in terms of the priority, in terms of NATO.
"Putin thought he could weaken NATO. He's only made it stronger and larger.
"NATO's strength comes from the US and European partners and others working together and that is absolutely the focus of my work at the moment."
He says "it is right" that, European countries, including the UK, need to do more on defence spend.
UK plans to 'strengthen' relationship with US, Starmer insists
12:40 , Holly EvansLiberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey asked the PM if he backs the idea of a new European rearmament bank, adding that it is “clear” that the UK will not be able to rely on the US any longer under Trump.
Sir Keir Starmer replied: "I'll resist the suggestion we have to choose between the US and our European partners. I do not believe that to be the case.
"And I want to strengthen our already strong relationship with the US, because I think it's vital that we do so.
"I, of course, want to work with our European allies on defence capability and what more we need to do in relation to capability, coordination, and funding."
Watch: Starmer unable to say defence uplift won’t go on Chagos Islands
12:34 , Holly EvansDiane Abbott rebukes Keir Starmer over aid cut
12:34 , Archie MitchellSir Keir Starmer has once again come under attack from Diane Abbott, this time over his decision to fund a defence spending increase by cutting aid to some of the world’s poorest people.
The veteran left-winger said the “whole country stands behind the people of Ukraine”, but added that “taking money from aid and development to spend on armaments and tanks makes people less safe, not more safe”.
“The desperation and poverty that so often leads to warfare is what aid and development money is supposed to counter,” Ms Abbott added.
It comes after a fierce power struggle between the two before the general election, in which senior Labour figures attempted to force Ms Abbott out of the party, which she eventually won. Sir Keir responded by saying he is proud of what Britain has done on international aid in the past, and he did not take the decision to cut it lightly.
He also promised to return to higher levels of aid spending in future.
Starmer says decision to slash overseas aid was not made 'lightly'
12:32 , Holly EvansIn response to Diane Abbott’s question regarding the decision to slash developmental aid to boost defence spending, the prime minister said it was not a decision he took “lightly”.
The Labour MP for Hackney North and Stoke Newington told the Commons: “The whole country stands behind people of Ukraine but there is also a view that taking money from aid and development to spend on armament and tanks makes people less safe, not more safe, because the desperation and the poverty that so often leads to warfare is what aid and developed money is meant to counter.”
Sir Keir Starmer responded: “It’s not a decision I took lightly or wanted to take but at this point it’s important we put defence and security spending for this country at the uppermost importance.”
He stressed that he hoped the Labour government would be able to return to investing in overseas aid in the future.
Short break rather than longlasting peace to be 'worst of all outcomes' in Ukraine
12:27 , Holly EvansPrime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has said a short break in hostilities in Ukraine rather than sustained and lasting peace would be “the worst of all outcomes”.
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch told the Commons: “We are still not clear where the money is coming from. We want to support him. He’s also said that we should put British troops on the ground in Ukraine. We haven’t seen the detail of any proposals. Would his new spending plans allow him to fund this commitment effectively?”
Sir Keir replied: “I think it’s the same question again – it’s £13.4 billion, that’s the difference between this year and 2027/28.
“She asks a serious question about the security guarantees in Ukraine, and that is extremely important because the worst of all outcomes – if there’s to be a cessation of hostilities – is that it is a short break rather than sustained and lasting peace.
“And I think that that means there’s got to be security guarantees. I’ve indicated that we will play our full part. There has to be US backing, because otherwise I don’t think it will deter (Russian President Vladimir) Putin.
“We are working on that. I am having extensive discussions about it. I’m not in a position to put details before the House, as she well knows, today but I’ll continue down that route because I want a lasting peace in Ukraine and Europe for the safety and security of Ukrainians, of Europeans and of course, for everybody in this country.”
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Starmer stresses 'special deep relationship' between UK and US
12:22 , Holly EvansFacing a question about his message to Donald Trump amid the “extraordinary” statements to come from the White House, Starmer said: “We certainly stand with Ukraine, Nato is the bedrock our security and it is our most important alliance for many years and as important now as it’s ever been.”
This comes as Mr Trump moves further away from Europe amid his calls for the continent to take more responsibility for security issues, as US diplomats prepare to meet with Russian officials.
The prime minister stressed that the UK and US have a “special deep relationship” with a shared interest in security, defence and intelligence issues.
He added: “We also work with our European allies and it is that ability to work with the us and European allies that holds the peace and will hold the peace for many years to come.”
Starmer unable to say defence uplift won’t go on Chagos
12:18 , Archie MitchellSir Keir Starmer has repeatedly refused to set out how much his deal to hand the Chagos Islands to Mauritius will cost.
He now finds himself in a difficult position, with Conservatives claiming much of his uplift in defence spending will actually be accounted for by the deal to leaseback a key UK-US military base in the archipelago.
Sir Keir was twice unable at PMQs to say that none of the uplift in defence spending was made up by the Chagos Islands deal, leaving an open flank for the Tories to attack him after an otherwise well-received announcement.
As long as Sir Keir refuses to set out how much the deal will cost, he leaves Labour open to attack as what he calls “wild off the mark” figures fill the void.
Analysis: Kemi Badenoch’s attempt at statesmanship falls flat
12:16 , Millie CookeKemi Badenoch has made an unexpected attempt at statesmanship during this week’s PMQs, telling the Commons she and Sir Keir Starmer are “completely united” in their support for Ukraine, as well as wishing the PM “every success” on his visit to Washington DC for talks with Donald Trump.
It mirrors the position Sir Keir took when he was leader of the opposition, choosing not to challenge Rishi Sunak’s government on issues of national security.
Perhaps the change in tactic was sparked by her last performance at PMQs, which was so poor it left senior figures in the party feeling extremely rattled about her ability to hang on as leader.
But her latest attempt at civility is not a muscle Kemi Badenoch flexes often, and was quickly rebuffed by Sir Keir who shortly after accused the Tory leader of being on a “desperate search for relevance” – as well as mocking her for being the self-appointed “saviour of Western civilization”.
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'No negotiations about Ukraine without Ukraine', PM stresses
12:13 , Holly EvansTaking questions about his upcoming visit to Washington DC to meet with Donald Trump, Sir Keir Starmer stressed that he remains steadfast in his position that Ukraine needs to be part of ceasefire negotiations.
He told the leader of the opposition: “There can be negotiations about Ukraine without Ukraine, that will contine to be my position.
“This about their sovereignty. They must be at the table.”
Kemi Badenoch wished him well ahead of his trip, and said that both parties are “united” in their support for Ukraine.
Analysis: Starmer takes the gloves off with Badenoch
12:10 , Archie MitchellSir Keir Starmer has taken the gloves off with Kemi Badenoch, launching an unusually brutal attack on the leader of the opposition.
The prime minister responded to Ms Badenoch’s attempt to claim credit for the defence spending increase, accusing her of “appointing herself the saviour of Western civilisation”.
“She didn’t feature in my thinking at all,” the PM said, eschewing a more conciliatory or diplomatic response.“I was so busy at the weekend, I didn’t even see her proposal,” the Tory leader added.
He then repeatedly mocked Ms Badenoch for asking the same question - about his muddled defence spending figures - multiple times.
“We went through this two weeks ago, going through the same question over and over again,” Sir Keir said.
It really feels like the prime minister is bored of Ms Badenoch’s questions.
Starmer doubles down on £13.4bn defence spending figure
12:09 , Holly EvansFacing questions from Kemi Badenoch regarding the numbers proposed by the Labour government with regards to the increase in defence spending, Sir Keir Starmer said: “We went through this two weeks ago, if you take the financial year this year and you take it financial year for 2027, the difference between the two is £13.4bn.”
It comes after the Institute for Fiscal Studies said the government was playing “silly games with numbers”, and defence secretary John Healey cast doubt on the figure by suggesting it was more along the lines of £6bn.
Watch live: Keir Starmer faces Kemi Badenoch at PMQs ahead of crunch US talks with Donald Trump
11:56 , Holly Evans
Watch live: Starmer faces Badenoch at PMQs ahead of crunch US talks with Trump
What have the Conservatives said about the defence increase?
11:52 , Holly EvansAs she gave a speech on foreign affairs in central London on Tuesday, Tory leader Kemi Badenoch described a 2.5 per cent rise as "now no longer sufficient".
She added: "The message should be simple: we must do what it takes to protect Britain."
She also backed diverting money currently spent on foreign aid to defence.
But it came just days after shadow defence secretary James Cartlidge admitted the Conservatives did not do enough on defence while they were in government.
He blamed Labour for the Tories’ inheritance in 2010, but said he wished the Conservatives had spent more on the armed forces at the time.
In pictures: Starmer leaving Downing Street to attend PMQs
11:44 , Holly Evans
National security must be a 'whole-society effort', says Starmer
11:34 , Holly EvansWriting for the Daily Mail on Wednesday, Sir Keir said national security “must now become a whole-society effort”.
He called the US “our most important ally” on security, and claimed that “turning away from that relationship would be against our history and our fundamental national interest” as he heralded the “biggest increase in defence spending since the end of the Cold War”.
It comes as Russian and US diplomats are set to meet in Turkey on Thursday to discusses issues in the operation of their respective embassies, as Mr Trump plans for negotiations with Russian president Vladimir Putin.
Can the UK afford to increase defence spending?
11:12 , Holly EvansRachel Reeves has promised to not use borrowing to fund day-to-day spending, and has also ruled out another autumn-like tax-hiking Budget. And the pledges appear to have forced the PM’s hand into funding the increase by dipping into Britain’s foreign aid budget - quickly condemned by Labour MPs and grandees including David Miliband.
Mr Miliband, who is now the president of the International Rescue Committee, said the cut to aid funding was a “blow to Britain’s proud reputation as a global humanitarian and development leader” and warned the global consequences would be “far reaching and devastating”. Hinting that the government was considering tax cuts to fund the pledge, but eventually chose the aid cut.
Ms Reeves told ITV last week: “Recognising the priority of defence spending in the world that we live in today means that we will have to make difficult choices so that we can spend that money that is needed to keep our country safe.”
Starmer insists international aid will continue for Gaza, Ukraine and Sudan
10:53 , Holly EvansSir Keir insisted on Tuesday it was “not a decision I wanted to make” as he held a Downing Street press conference setting out the plans.
The Prime Minister, who previously backed calls to increase the aid budget, also told reporters: “It is important that I am clear that we will continue our support in areas such as Gaza, Sudan, Ukraine of course. That’s the context in which we’ve made this decision.”
He later added: “There is no driver of migration and poverty like conflict. That is why ensuring that by taking strong action now to deter tyrants like Putin we have to take decisions we’ve made today.
“Not a decision I wanted to take, a decision that was necessary for the protection of our country.”
ActionAid, a charity that works with women and girls living in poverty, described Sir Keir’s decision to slash the aid budget as “reckless” and said it is “profoundly shocked and disappointed” by the Government’s decision.
Save the Children UK similarly said it is “stunned” by the move, labelling it “a betrayal of the world’s most vulnerable children and the UK’s national interest”.
Starmer warned child poverty will hit all-time high if two-child benefit cap not scrapped
10:34 , Holly EvansSir Keir Starmer is facing a fresh backlash over the two-child benefit cap after a key economic think tank warned child poverty would hit an all-time high if it is not scrapped.
The prime minister has been urged to rethink the Conservative-era limit after the Resolution Foundation said his strategy to tackle child poverty would lack credibility if it remains in place.
Furious Labour MPs told The Independent the two-child limit was a “critical issue” for the government to address, branding it the biggest driver of rising child poverty.
Read the full article here:
Starmer warned two-child benefit cap will push poverty to all-time high
PM’s defence plan will not lead to end of working from home, says Whitehall chief
10:19 , Holly EvansThere are no plans to review the current policy on working from home for civil servants in response to the urgency of major changes announced by the Prime Minister, the head of the civil service has confirmed.
Cabinet Secretary Sir Chris Wormald, who was appointed by Sir Keir Starmer to “rewire” the way the British state works, told MPs that department leaders should always be considering appropriate ways of working that suit specific circumstances.
But during an appearance before the Commons Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee, Sir Chris said the existing general rule that civil servants should spend a minimum of three days a week in the office will remain.
Sir Keir Starmer has slashed the aid budget to fund a dramatic increase in defence spending in response to “tyrant” Vladimir Putin and uncertainty over US President Donald Trump’s commitment to European security.
Should the UK and Europe step away from Nato – and US influence?
10:06 , Holly EvansGermany’s likely next chancellor, Friedrich Merz, has stirred debate by calling for Europe to achieve “independence” from the United States and questioning whether Nato can survive.
Amid America’s controversial negotiations with Russia on bringing Vladimir Putin’s war in Ukraine to an end, Merz has distanced himself from Trump’s rhetoric and advocated for stronger European unity.
Merz argues that Europe should build its own defence, with potential backing from nuclear powers like the UK and France.
Join The Independent’s debate here:
Should the UK and Europe step away from Nato – and US influence?
Questions raised over defence spending figure
09:48 , Holly EvansPaul Johnson, the director of the Institute for Fiscal Studies, said on Tuesday that ministers were playing “silly games with numbers” and had provided “totally inconsistent figures” measured against different benchmarks.
The think tank’s associate director, Ben Zaranko, had earlier suggested the increase in spending would amount to around £6 billion, rather than the £13.4 billion the PM had indicated.
Mr Zaranko said: “As a minor note to what is a major announcement, the Prime Minister followed in the steps of the last government by announcing a misleadingly large figure for the ‘extra’ defence spending this announcement entails.
“An extra 0.2 per cent of GDP is around £6 billion, and this is the size of the cut to the aid budget. Yet he trumpeted a £13 billion increase in defence spending.
“It’s hard to be certain without more detail from the Treasury, but this figure only seems to make sense if one thinks the defence budget would otherwise have been frozen in cash terms.”
The Conservatives have also said the figures “don’t seem to be completely right”.
What is Keir Starmer’s plan to increase UK defence spending and is it affordable?
09:40 , Holly EvansSir Keir Starmer is travelling to Washington this week armed having freshly announced plans to slash the foreign aid budget in order to fund a boost to Britain’s defence spending, which he hopes will help the UK avoid any conflict with US president Donald Trump.
The prime minister outlined plans for Britain to spend 2.5 per cent of its GDP on defence by 2027, up from 2.3 per cent currently, which he said amounted to a £13.4 billion annual uplift.
It comes amid calls from Mr Trump for Nato countries to significantly bolster their armed forces as he seeks to negotiate an end to Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine.
Read the full breakdown from Archie Mitchell here:
What is Keir Starmer’s plan to increase UK defence spending and is it affordable?
Starmer to host European allies this weekend after Washington visit
09:30 , Holly EvansThe Prime Minister revealed on Tuesday that he will host European leaders over the weekend to discuss future defence.
“I am hosting a number of countries at the weekend for us to continue to discuss how we go forward together as allies in light of the situation that we face,” he said.
The gathering is likely to feature a similar group who appeared at a recent summit convened in Paris, including leaders from Germany, Spain, Italy, France, the Netherlands and the EU Commission.
Sir Keir spoke with Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday following the French President’s visit to Washington DC.
The two leaders both “reiterated that Ukraine must be at the heart of any negotiations” during the phone call, according to Downing Street.
Trump’s new axis of friendly dictators is a threat to US allies – and decades of joint intelligence
09:12 , Holly Evansolicies can drift and diplomacy meander. As great powers try to resolve wars and conflicts, obfuscation and sleight of hand are inevitable and sometimes essential. But when a great power changes sides in the halls of the United Nations, it’s not a play – but a betrayal of their allies.
On Monday, the United States abandoned the United Kingdom, France and the whole of the European Union to vote alongside Russia, North Korea and Israel at the UN’s General Assembly.
The conclusion is that, under the presidency of Donald Trump, the US cannot be considered an ally of other Western democracies and must now be treated as a potential foe.
In the world of espionage, he has been seen as a liability since he was last elected president in 2016.
Read the full analysis from our world affairs editor Sam Kiley here:
Trump’s new axis of friendly dictators is threat to US allies and joint intelligence
Real terms increase is along £6bn mark, Healey suggests
09:00 , Holly EvansDefence secretary John Healey has suggested the real-terms increase in defence spending is “something over £6 billion”, after Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer suggested it would mean spending £13.4 billion every year.
Speaking to BBC Breakfast, Mr Healey was asked about criticism of the figures and said “the definition of defence numbers can be done in different ways”.
He explained: “You can take it as a percentage of GDP, you can take it as cash terms.
“What Keir Starmer was talking about yesterday was the increase in hard cash that will be spent on defence in two years’ time compared to what’s being spent today.”
Pushed on whether the £13.4 billion figure would be correct if the assumption was that the Government did not increase the defence budget year on year in line with inflation, Mr Healey said: “Yes, that’s the cash… that’s a cash number.
“If we were increasing it … in real terms, taking in inflation, it would be something over £6 billion. Either way, this is a big boost for defence.”
'This is a stepping up on defence spending and a stepping up on support for Ukraine'
— BBC Breakfast (@BBCBreakfast) February 26, 2025
Defence Secretary John Healey spoke to #BBCBreakfast after the Prime Minister announced an increase in defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027https://t.co/33gfxKWYKH pic.twitter.com/iduEQNbVnd
Trump has 'reinforced' need for UK and Europe to step up to defence challenge
08:48 , Holly EvansJohn Healey said Donald Trump has been “very direct in his challenge” over defence in recent weeks.
Asked whether the increase in defence spending announced on Tuesday is linked to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s visit to the US president, the Defence Secretary told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “President Trump, over the last two weeks, has been very direct in his challenge.
“He’s reinforced the imperative and the importance of Britain making this commitment and helping other European countries to step up in a similar way.”
Asked whether the decision means it is expected the US president will be more willing to engage with the UK, Mr Healey said: “I’ve never had any doubt that President Trump and the US administration … recognise that the UK is the US’s closest defence and security ally, they’ve challenged us to help lead in Europe.”
He added that Sir Keir will be able to say to his American counterpart: “You are challenging Europe and the UK to step up on European security, on Ukraine, on defence spending, on reinforcing our industrial base. We are, and we will step up further.”
Healey denies Trump is sole cause of defence budget boost
08:42 , Holly EvansDefence secretary John Healey has insisted pressure from Washington is not the sole reason for the unexpected hike in defence spending, which will be funded by cuts to international aid.
Speaking from Wellington Barracks, Healey was asked if it is fair to say the UK would not be boosting defence spending if it weren't for Donald Trump."No, it's not", Healey says. "I was with Sir Keir Starmer back in April last year in Barrow when we made the commitment to increase defence spending to 2.5 per cent of what this country produces.
"That's a level we've not spent in this country for 15 years."
He added that that this promise was made in Labour's election manifesto but is being acted upon now as “the world has changed”.
Figures 'don't seem completely right' says shadow defence secretary
08:23 , Holly EvansNew figures shared on the rise in defence spending by the Government “don’t seem to be completely right”, the shadow defence secretary said.
James Cartlidge told Times Radio: “It’s in the national interest that we increase defence spending, so I do support that in principle.
“Obviously, we’ve got some questions to follow up on some of what was said in terms of the figures because they don’t seem to be completely right in the cold light of day, it’s fair to say.
“But we obviously need to look at that, understand what it means, because there was this £13.4 billion extra – that is the entire aid budget and the aid budget is being cut by, we understand about 40 per cent, so we’re looking at where the difference arises.”
Starmer keen to see relationship with US go 'strength to strength'
08:13 , Holly EvansJohn Healey has said he thinks Donald Trump will welcome the UK’s increase in defence spending.
Sir Keir Starmer will travel to Washington on Wednesday for talks with the US president.
Asked on Sky News whether he thinks Mr Trump will be welcoming the Prime Minister given this announcement, Mr Healey said “I do” and suggested that Mr Trump has indicated as such.
“The new defence secretary, Pete Hegseth, said publicly look, ‘Keir Starmer’s step was a strong step from an enduring partner and the US-UK relationship’.
“They are our closest security ally, we are strong partners on trade, on economic growth, on technology.
“And Keir Starmer will be saying to President Trump, look, we have a special depth to our relationship that goes back decades, not just on security and defence, but that’s at its heart.
“And Keir Starmer will say we want to see that relationship go from strength to strength.”
Defence secretary admits Keir Starmer fiddled figures on defence increase announcement
08:12 , Holly EvansThe defence secretary has admitted that Sir Keir Starmer misled voters when he claimed the increase in defence spending meant a £13.4 billion yearly boost for the armed forces.
“If you did it in real terms, taking in inflation, it would be something over £6 billion,” Mr Healey told BBC Breakfast. “Either way, this is a big boost,” he insisted.
On Tuesday, Institute for Fiscal Studies director Paul Johnson accused Sir Keir of a “misuse of statistics”. Mr Johnson said it was “a major announcement as it is”, adding that it “does not need exaggeration”.
The £13.4 billion figure assumed an unrealistic counterfactual scenario in which defence spending would not have increased in line with inflation or remained at a constant percentage of Britain’s GDP. “Why governments of all ilks insist on over-egging like this is beyond me,” Mr Johnson said.
Plan to increase defence spending is 'iron-clad' to obtain peace in Europe
08:05 , Holly EvansJohn Healey has said the Government’s commitment to spend 2.5 per cent of GDP on defence by 2027 is “iron clad”.
Mr Healey told Sky News: “Yes, that commitment to 2.5 per cent by 2027 is iron-clad.
“The important thing is that Keir Starmer said exactly how we will fund that so people can have confidence in that.
“Our industry can be confident that we have a long-term plan to boost them as part of strengthening our… own security.
Asked about the extended target of hitting 3 per cent of GDP for defence in the next Parliament, Mr Healey added: “It’s a signal to other European countries that they also must do more, and it’s a signal to the US and to our adversaries in particular that Europe will do more of the heavy lifting on our own security.
“We’ll step up further on Ukraine because it’s important that Ukraine stays strong in order to get a secure, durable peace, and we will also do more across the board on defence industry and defence spending.”
Keir Starmer tries to channel his inner Winston Churchill
08:00 , Holly EvansMild-mannered Keir Starmer is not cut out for Churchillian speeches that stir the blood. But the prime minister got as close as he ever will on Tuesday with the extraordinary announcement of a huge increase in defence spending to counter the threat from Russia’s Vladimir Putin.
To underline the gravity of the situation, Starmer staged a televised, live Downing Street press conference of the kind that normally marks a national emergency, such as a pandemic.
The threat he wanted to highlight on this occasion is rather more tangible than an invisible virus: that of military invasion.
He conjured up a chilling picture of enemy tanks rolling down the highways and byways of Britain, just like they have in Ukraine over the last three years.
It is not what Starmer expected to be doing when he won last year’s election.
Read the full analysis from Simon Walters here:
Labour manifesto pledge on the backburner in pursuit of defence boost
07:51 , Archie MitchellThe defence secretary has admitted to Labour putting a manifesto pledge on the backburner as it chases Sir Keir Starmer’s defence spending uplift.
John Healey said reaching 0.7 per cent of GDP on development spending - as Labour promised during the general election campaign - remained the party’s “long-term aim”.
“It’s our desire to see an increase in UK development aid,” he told Sky News.But, confronted with the fact the commitment will clearly not be met this parliament, Mr Healey cited “difficult decisions”.
He added: “Difficult decisions demanded by the challenges we face, the increasing unpredictability and danger in the world, the more aggression that we see from adversaries.
“And it's important to remember, Russian aggression isn't confined to Ukraine, and if Putin prevails in Ukraine, he won't stop at Ukraine.”
Healey insists UK has been 'really firm' in dealings with Trump
07:46 , Holly EvansThe UK has been “really firm” over principles in its dealings with the US, the Defence Secretary has suggested.
Asked whether Britain has been brave enough in dealing with Donald Trump, John Healey said the country shares the president’s aims in ending the war.
He told Times Radio: “I think the UK has been really firm about the sort of principles and what’s required.
“We’re recognising and we share President Trump’s aims to bring a durable peace and an end to the Ukraine conflict.
“He’s pledged to bring Putin to the negotiating table.
“There’s some way to go on that, and in the end, the US is the only force strong enough to put pressure on Putin to negotiate, and the only strongest force to stand behind any long-term peace to make sure that it doesn’t become a pretext for Putin to regroup, re-arm, reload, and then re-invade.”
Healey tight-lipped on whether Chagos deal will count towards defence uplift
07:40 , Archie MitchellThe defence secretary will not say whether Britain’s deal to hand the Chagos Islands to Mauritius will count towards the prime minister’s plans to hike defence spending.
Under the deal, which will see the UK cede control of the archipelago, home to a key UK-US airbase, the PM is expected to agree to handing billions of pounds to the Mauritian government.
But, asked on Times Radio whether the spending would contribute to Sir Keir’s plans to spend 2.5 per cent of Britain’s GDP on defence, John Healey refused three times to be drawn. The defence secretary repeated that there is not currently a deal or agreement that has been signed.
UK foreign aid: How much is spent and who receives it as Starmer slashes budget
07:35 , Holly EvansSir Keir Starmer is set to slash the UK’s foreign aid budget to fund the largest increase in defence spending since the Cold War.
The prime minister said the extra £13.4bn for defence every year from 2027 was needed to counter “tyrants” like Vladimir Putin.
The increase in defence spending from 2.3 per cent to 2.5 per cent of GDP will be funded by cutting spending on overseas aid from 0.5 per cent of gross national income (GNI) to 0.3 per cent, Sir Keir said.
UNICEF said the move was “deeply concerning” and WaterAid warned it was a “cruel betrayal” of people in poverty.
Here, The Independent takes a look at how much the UK spends on foreign aid and what the money has funded over the years.
Read the full article here:
UK foreign aid: How much is spent and who receives it as Starmer slashes budget
US and Ukraine 'close to a deal' that could help long-term peace, Healey says
07:29 , Holly EvansDefence Secretary John Healey has said a minerals deal agreed between the US and Ukraine would be a “good thing” if it helps “shape” long-term peace.
Speaking to Times Radio, Mr Healey said it appears the countries are “close to a deal”, adding he spoke to his counterparts in Washington and Kyiv on Tuesday.
“In the end, that detail’s a matter for the two countries, and we’ll see the detail emerge, but peace is part of a process,” he said.
“We’re at an early stage, and if this helps shape the long-term peace that’s required in Ukraine, then that’s a good thing.
“In the meantime, my job as defence minister is to make sure that we help keep Ukraine in the fight as strong as possible and that we don’t jeopardise the peace by forgetting about the war.”
Ukraine agrees to minerals deal with the US amid plans for peace talks
07:27 , Holly EvansKyiv has agreed to a minerals deal which had been pushed for by the new US administration, according to Ukrainian officials, which could be signed off when their president visits Washington.
Mr Zelensky had claimed the 50 per cent share of rare minerals initially demanded by America would have been akin to selling his nation, but Ukraine now appears satisfied the deal will lead to a continued flow of US military support in its war against Russia.
Ukraine’s deputy prime minister Olha Stefanishyna said the minerals deal was part of wider talks between the two countries.
“We have heard multiple times from the US administration that it’s part of a bigger picture,” she told the Financial Times.
Rachel Reeves urges Europe to raise defence spending
07:23 , Holly EvansWriting in The Daily Telegraph newspaper, Chancellor Ms Reeves urged European nations to follow the UK’s lead in raising defence spending, amid uncertainty over the US’s commitment to European security.
“This is a generational moment for our continent. All of us must step up and do more on defence,” she said, as she travels to South Africa to meet with G20 finance ministers.
Ms Reeves added: “That is why, over the coming days, I will be talking to European counterparts at the G20 in South Africa about the importance of security and defence for our economies, and how we can work together to bolster them.”
European leaders will meet in the UK over the weekend to discuss future defence, Sir Keir revealed, a gathering likely to feature a similar group to those who appeared at a recent summit convened in Paris, including leaders from Germany, Spain, Italy, France, the Netherlands and the EU Commission.
Sir Keir and Mr Macron both “reiterated that Ukraine must be at the heart of any negotiations” when they spoke over the phone on Tuesday.
Starmer to meet Trump in Washington
07:18 , Holly EvansSir Keir Starmer will fly to the United States on Wednesday ahead of crunch talks with Donald Trump, as the chancellor urged European allies to follow the UK in raising defence spending.
The prime minister will travel to Washington DC after facing his weekly grilling in the House of Commons, following his announcement of a dramatic increase in the size of the UK’s war chest, paid for by cutting the international aid budget.
Meanwhile, European nations must “step up and do more on defence”, Rachel Reeves said after the UK pledged to raise defence spending from its current 2.3 per cent to 2.5 per cent of the UK’s economic output by 2027.
Sir Keir will follow French president Emmanuel Macron in visiting Mr Trump in Washington DC and Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky is expected to visit on Friday.
