Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has set out plans to increase defence spending to 2.5% of national income by 2027, as peace talks to end the war in Ukraine gather pace. The PM said he would cut the UK's international aid budget to fund the rise in defence spending, which is currently 2.3% of GDP.

Britain will accelerate an increase to its defense spending, Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced Tuesday, on the eve of a crucial visit to meet US President Donald Trump in Washington.

Sir Keir Starmer has announced the UK will aim to spend 2.5 per cent of GDP on defence every year from 2027 and 3 per cent in the next parliament. In a House of Commons statement this afternoon, the Prime Minister said the figure would mean a £13.