Starmer prepares for leadership battle as Streeting declares UK must rejoin EU
Prime minister Keir Starmer is expected to approve an £18bn increase in defence spending, as he prepares to battle for his political survival.
Senior defence insiders said the investment would enable the armed forces to modernise and prepare to fight a future war.
According to reports in The Times, national security adviser, Jonathan Powell, has written to Starmer in recent weeks warning him that Britain would struggle to maintain its position on the world stage without a significant hike in spending.
He warned that the armed forces could not afford jets, munitions and advanced technology that is needed to fight a future war without upping the budget.
Dame Antonia Romeo, Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of Justice, is also understood to have pushed for an increase to spending.
Approving the boost
Starmer is expected to approve the spending boost as soon as next week, ending months of delays and internal rows, amid concerns in the Treasury that the boost is unaffordable.
It is currently unclear how the increase will be funded, but a Whitehall source said it would be “fully affordable”.
The boost comes as Starmer gears up to battle for his premiership, following a week of resignations and turmoil inside No 10, with his role thrown further under threat by Andy Burnham attempting to return to Westminster.
The Greater Manchester Mayor confirmed he would run for a seat in Makerfield after MP Josh Simons stepped down to make way for him, and challenge Starmer for No 10.
The prime minister pledged to put defence and security at the centre of his premiership, in reflection of the ongoing wars in Ukraine and Iran, including an ambition to reach three per cent of GDP in the next parliament.
Critics warned that failing to increase defence spending would undermine his ambitions.
Rejoining the EU
Away from Burnham, Starmer has also been forced to deal with a number of resignations this week amid the explosion of Labour infighting, including that of health secretary Wes Streeting.
The health secretary posted a letter on X where he refers to last week’s local election results as “unprecedented – both in terms of the scale of the defeat and the consequences of that failure”.
He added there is “no doubt that the unpopularity of this government was a major and common factor” in the losses last week.
Earlier today Streeting argued for the UK to rejoin the EU, whilst he announced his intention to run in a leadership contest.
Speaking at the conference of the Labour-affiliated group Progress, Streeting says: “We need a new special relationship with the EU, because Britain’s future lies with Europe – and one day back in the European Union.”
The potential challenger for the Labour leadership calls the decision to leave the EU a “catastrophic mistake”.
He continued: “In 2026, the British people increasingly see that in a dangerous world, we must club together, both to rebuild our economy and trade, and improve our defence against the shared threats from Russian aggression and the retreat of America First.”
The former health secretary says Labour “can no longer afford to be silent about” the impacts of Brexit and that we “must remake the argument” for rejoining.
Starmer appointed James Murray, MP for Ealing North, for the job despite having never run a major Whitehall department.
Lucy Rigby was appointed as chief secretary to the Treasury and Rachel Blake has been appointed City minister.