Starmer Wants Reeves to Ramp Up British Defense Spending

Keir Starmer is pushing the Treasury to accelerate plans to increase UK defense spending, after being persuaded by military chiefs that swifter action is needed to restore the country’s hollowed-out forces.

The premier’s office and Ministry of Defence believe expenditure beyond the current commitment of 2.6% of economic output by 2027 is needed to fill a hole in the defense budget and make progress on a more credible strategy in response to rising threats, according to people familiar with the matter who requested anonymity in order to speak candidly about the deliberations.