Tag Archives: Politics

Keir Starmer Announces Foreign Aid Is Being Slashed To Boost Defence Spending

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Britain’s foreign aid budget is to be slashed to pay for a huge boost in defence spending, Keir Starmer has announced.

The prime minister told the Commons that the government will hit its target of spending 2.5% of gross domestic product (GDP) on defence by 2027 – three years earlier than planned.

That means an extra £13.4 billion a year will be spent on defence, which Starmer said was the biggest sustained increase in the military budget since the Cold War.

It comes after Donald Trump signalled that America would no longer provide military protection for Europe and against the backdrop of the ongoing war in Ukraine.

Starmer said: “We must change our national security posture, because a generational challenge requires a generational response.”

The PM said that the amount spent on international aid will be reduced from 0.5% of GDP to 0.3% to pay for it.

“That is not an announcement I am happy to make,” he said. “I am proud of our record on overseas development.

“At times like these the defence and security of the British people must always come first – that is the number one priority of this government.”

The prime minister also told MPs that “subject to economic conditions” the UK will further increase its defence spending to 3% of GDP after the next general election.

Taking spending on the security and intelligence services into account as well as defence, the budget will amount to a 2.6% share of the economy from 2027, Starmer said.

The timing of the announcement is significant as it comes as the PM is set to fly to Washington on Wednesday to meet President Trump, who has called on other Nato countries to boost their defence spending.

Starmer said: “At moments like this in our past, Britain has stood up to be counted. It has come together and it has demonstrated strength.

“That is what the security of our country needs now and it is what this government will deliver.”

Lib Dem leader Ed Davey said: “The Liberal Democrats fully support raising defence spending to 2.5% of GDP as a minimum, as quickly as possible. I hope today’s announcement will mean the rapid reversal of the Conservative Party’s shortsighted and irresponsible decision to cut our Armed Forces by 10,000 troops.

“But given the threat to our security posed by Putin and Trump, the government must go further and bring all parties together to agree an increase to 3% of GDP as soon as possible.

“By cosying up to Putin, Donald Trump is threatening to betray not only our Ukrainian allies, but the British people and the whole of Europe too. Now it is up to the UK to stand up and lead in Europe, for the safety and security of us all.”

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Putin Claims European Leaders Are On The Cusp Of ‘Losing Face’ Amid Ukraine Peace Talks

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Vladimir Putin has claimed that it is “almost impossible” for European leaders not to “lose face” as Donald Trump continues to side with Russia over the Ukraine war.

In his push to end the conflict as soon as possible, the US president has already suggested Kyiv – whom he has falsely blamed for starting the war – may have to cede occupied territory.

The Trump administration even split from its allies, the UK and France, in a UN Security Council resolution yesterday by refusing to blame Moscow for starting the conflict, even though Russia invaded Ukraine three years ago.

As Europe scrambles to protect Ukraine’s sovereignty amid Trump’s push for peace, the Russian president seemed to revel in the continent’s panic.

According to Russian state news agency TASS, Putin noted that Europe is tied to Ukraine now, adding: “They have said and promised too much.

“And now it is very difficult or practically impossible for them to get out of this situation without losing face.”

Putin also said Moscow would not oppose it if any European peacekeeping troops were deployed to Ukraine.

And, despite agreeing to initial peace discussions with the US last week, the Russian president claimed he sees the position of other nations as important, worth treating “with respect”.

Apparently forgetting that he has annexed five different regions of Ukraine, Putin even claimed he was not opposed to preserving the country’s statehood too, and expressed hope “that it eventually becomes a friendly neighbouring state”.

Unsurprisingly, the Russian leader piled praise on Trump during his interview.

He said: “He can move forward and work toward a settlement of the conflict. And it’s in his character, I guess – he acts straightforwardly and without much embarrassment.

“He has a unique position. He doesn’t just say what he thinks, he says what he wants.

“Well, that’s the privilege of a leader, one of the great leaders.”

Trump has been pushing for Ukraine to settle its debts after three years of military support from the States by signing a revenue-sharing agreeing on Ukrainian minerals – a plan which Kyiv has rejected.

Putin alluded to this deal during his interview, saying Moscow would be happy to work with any other country to offer them rare earth mining projects within Russia.

He said: “They will make a decent profit, and the corresponding amounts of aluminum will be delivered to the domestic market at absolutely acceptable market prices. There is a lot to think about here.”

The Russian president touched on Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s offer to step down in exchange for peace and Nato membership after Trump falsely accused him of being a dictator.

Putin claimed Russia would benefit from Zelenskyy remaining power, but called for an election in Ukraine.

He suggested it was time to “bring to power people who enjoy the trust of the Ukrainian people”, overlooking how Ukraine’s presidential election was postponed in Ukraine because of Putin’s barbaric invasion.

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Donald Trump Has Changed The Global Situation ‘For The Better’, Says No10

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Donald Trump has changed the global situation “for the better”, according to No.10.

Keir Starmer’s official spokesman made the comments as the prime minister prepares for his first face-to-face talks with the president in Washington on Thursday.

Trump has faced widespread criticism over his approach to foreign affairs since being re-elected.

Trump has been accused of excluding Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy – who he described as a “dictator” – from peace talks to end the country’s war with Russia.

He has insisted that US troops will play no part in maintaining any ceasefire agreement, while his defence secretary Pete Hegseth has ruled out the prosepct of Ukraine joining Nato.

Trump has also accused the UK and France of doing nothing to end the war, which began exactly three years ago when Russia invaded its neighbour.

Speaking to world leaders earlier today, Starmer said: “President Trump has changed the global conversation over the last few weeks. And it has created an opportunity. Now, we must get the fundamentals right.”

Asked if the PM believes Trump has changed the international situation for the better, his spokesman said: “Absolutely for the better. He’s brought about these talks that could bring a lasting peace for Ukraine, which is what we all want to see.

“We all want to see a lasting peace and we support President Trump’s US-led efforts to create a lasting peace and he looks forward to discussing with President Trump later in the week how we reach that durable peace in Ukraine.”

He added: “We all want to see an end to this war and President Trump is right that European nations must now take greater responsibility for our security.”

The comments are in stark contrast to those of German chancellor-elect Friedrich Merz, who has accused Trump being “largely indifferent to the fate of Europe”.

Merz, whose CDU party gained the most support in yesterday’s German election, said: “My absolute priority will be to strengthen Europe as quickly as possible so that, step by step, we can really achieve independence from the USA.

“I never thought I would have to say something like this on a television programme. But after Donald Trump’s statements last week at the latest, it is clear that the Americans, at least this part of the Americans, this administration, are largely indifferent to the fate of Europe.”

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Keir Starmer Facing Difficult By-Election After Ex-Labour MP Jailed For Assault

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A former Labour MP has been jailed for assault – teeing up the prospect of a nightmare by-election for Keir Starmer.

Mike Amesbury repeatedly punched 45-year-old Paul Fellows in Frodsham, Cheshire, in October last year.

At Cheshire Magistrates Court on Monday, the Runcorn and Helsby MP was sentenced to 10 weeks in prison.

His conviction will trigger a recall petition of his constituents, which would lead to a by-election if 10% of eligible voters in the seat sign it.

Amesbury, who was expelled by Labour after the incident, was elected to represent the newly-created constituency last July with a majority of nearly 15,000 over Reform UK.

But since then, Labour’s popularity has plummeted and the party is now running neck-and-neck with Nigel Farage’s party in opinion polls.

Reform UK chairman Zia Yusuf said: “The great people of Runcorn deserve far better than waiting six weeks for a recall petition to take place.

“We call on Mike Amesbury to do the honourable thing and resign immediately so a by election can be held.”

Amesbury pleaded guilty to assault at a hearing last month, during which CCTV of the incident was shown in court. The prosecution said the MP punched Mr Fellows at least five times while he was on the ground.

Speaking after that hearing, the MP told reporters: “I respect the judicial process. It’s highly regrettable, the incident in October.

“I’m sincerely sorry to Mr Fellows and his family.”

Amesbury first became an MP for the former seat of Weaver Vale at the 2017 general election.

He was a shadow local government minister when Labour was in opposition, but stood down from the role in 2022 to focus on his constituency work.

In court on Monday, Amesbury’s lawyer Richard Derby said: “I’ve never represented a person of such exemplary character as I have today, who has provided so much of his life to public service and the service of others.”

He added: “The sentence he is carrying emotionally, professionally and mentally will stay with him forever.”

Passing sentence, deputy chief magistrate Tan Ikram said Amesbury “continued to punch Mr Fellows when he was on the ground”.

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‘Very, Very Bad’: Former US Government Economist Makes Bleakest Trump Prediction

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It “seems almost unavoidable at this point” that the United States is “headed for a deep, deep recession” thanks to the Trump administration’s massive government job cuts and pullback from official contracts, a former Obama-era Department of Labor economist has warned.

Jesse Rothstein, a professor of public policy and economics at the University of California, Berkeley, predicted on BlueSky this week that the employment report for March 2025 will show “bigger job losses than any month ever outside of a few in 2008-9 and 2020.” (I.e. — when America was hit by the 2008 financial crash and then, later, by the coronavirus pandemic).

It seems almost unavoidable at this point that we are headed for a deep, deep recession. Just based on 200K+ federal firings & pullback of contracts, the March employment report (to be released April 4) seems certain to show bigger job losses than any month ever outside of a few in 2008-9 and 2020.

— Jesse Rothstein (@jrothst.bsky.social) 2025-02-19T01:37:08.298Z

Rothstein also envisioned “enormous private market uncertainty” that would make companies reluctant to hire.

It’s “going to be very, very bad,” he said he feared.

President Donald Trump has tasked billionaire Elon Musk, the world’s richest man, with slashing public spending via the non-official Department of Government Efficiency.

The current total number of federal jobs that have been cut is not clear.

But Rothstein estimated it to be more than 200,000.

The gutting of government is just one Trump policy that economists have warned could plunge America into a new financial crisis.

Others include Trump’s imposition of tariffs on imports and his vow to deport millions of undocumented immigrants.

Nobel laureate economist Joseph Stiglitz earlier this week said the tariffs could cause stagflation — or stagnant economic growth, high inflation and rising unemployment. The US is becoming “a scary place to invest” amid the ripping up of government contracts, he added.

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Boris Johnson Is Charging £121 Per Person For A Meet And Greet

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Boris Johnson is charging people more than £120 for a meet and greet in Scotland this September.

The former Conservative prime minister is already charging between £53.90 and £159.50 for tickets just for the public to attend “An Evening with Boris Johnson”, a live show at Edinburgh’s Usher Hall on September 2.

As discovered by The Scotsman newspaper, people can get a face-to-face with the ex-MP along with a photo together for an additional £121.25.

According to the event page, Johnson is known for “enacting the will of the British people” over Brexit and unleashing a “visionary agenda of domestic policy reform”.

Johnson also helped to “protect the union of England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland,” the advert on Usher Hall’s website says – although the Brexit vote actually helped to elevate the cause of Scottish independence.

Johnson, now a columnist for the Daily Mail, is then described as a “pre-eminent global leader in the effort to support Ukraine in its fight against Russian invasion”, and “considered by the Kremlin as enemy number one”.

He is also praised for leading the UK “through the darkest days of the pandemic” on the event page.

The former prime minister was ousted from office halfway through his term when ministers from his own government started to resign en masse over his leadership.

Johnson was ejected in July 2022 for a number of scandals, including being fined for breaching his own government’s social distancing rules during the Covid lockdown.

He resigned as the Uxbridge and South Ruislip MP the following year, shortly before an investigation into the partygate scandal found he had deliberately misled MPs by alleging Covid rules were followed at all times in Downing Street.

There are reports that Johnson is now eyeing up a political comeback, although the former politician has denied the claims.

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Sky News Presenter Makes Painfully Obvious Point As Tories Slam Labour’s Defence Budget

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Sky News presenter Wilfred Frost called out a Tory MP for criticising the government’s defence spending today.

Keir Starmer is facing additional pressure on national security as Donald Trump is pushing to secure a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine.

The UK has already said it would send peacekeeping troops to protect Ukraine if an agreement was reached – but that declaration has only exacerbated existing concerns over the lack of investment in defence.

Labour has also promised to hike defence spending from its current rate of 2.3% of GDP to 2.5% although it is yet to offer a clear timeline.

But, when shadow national security minister Alicia Kearns slammed the prime minister for not increasing investment in the sector sooner this morning on Sky News, she received a bleak reminder.

The MP began by claiming Starmer’s “priority today should be to talk about defence spending” – something she said should have in place “since July”.

But presenter Frost quickly hit back: “I mean, you’re trying to criticise the state of defence spending, [seven] months into their government when this is a long-term issue after 14 years in power.”

After almost a decade and a half of Conservative government, defence spending in real terms fell to £53.9bn during their last full year in power, 2023-24.

That’s less than the last full year Labour was last in power, 2009-10, when defence spending was at £57.1bn.

But Kearns hit back: “I’ve always been very clear. I was critical of my own government, but the reality is 2.3% of defence is what we’ve been spending, that is a good amount, and we’ve been investing in the right equipment.”

She added: “But what I’m saying is, since July, a decision was made to side with the Treasury to not give the increase in defence spending we need to continue to replenish stocks, replenishing stocks should be the priority.”

She said that was necessary in case the UK needed to provide peacekeepers to Ukraine.

“I will continue to stand with Ukraine, but I will continue to speak out as I have done from the moment I was elected, to make sure we defend our security,” Kearns said.

The Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch also criticised Labour’s defence spending today.

Speaking at the Alliance for Responsible Citizenship conference, she said: “Failing to spend more on defence isn’t peace-making, it is weakness, and it only emboldens their threats to democracy and global stability.”

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Here’s Alicia Kearns(Tory MP) complaining that the govt haven’t increased defence spending since July.

Wilfred Frost: You’re trying to criticise the state of defence spending, 6 months into their govt, when this is a long-term issue after 14 years in power? pic.twitter.com/o5FJTXsW4u

— Haggis_UK 🇬🇧 🇪🇺 (@Haggis_UK) February 17, 2025

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Wilfred Frost: You’re trying to criticise the state of defence spending, 6 months into their govt, when this is a long-term issue after 14 years in power? pic.twitter.com/o5FJTXsW4u— Haggis_UK 🇬🇧 🇪🇺 (@Haggis_UK) February 17, 2025\n\n\n","options":{"_hide_media":{"label":"Hide photos, videos, and cards","value":false},"_maxwidth":{"label":"Adjust width","placeholder":"220-550, in px","value":""},"_theme":{"value":"","values":{"dark":"Use dark theme"}}},"provider_name":"Twitter","thumbnail_height":544,"thumbnail_url":"https://pbs.twimg.com/ext_tw_video_thumb/1891407836736851969/pu/img/ZAJrJY1G-hc8517Y.jpg:large","thumbnail_width":864,"title":"Haggis_UK 🇬🇧 🇪🇺 on Twitter / X","type":"rich","url":"https://twitter.com/Haggis_UK/status/1891407905406046523","version":"1.0"},"flags":[],"enhancements":{},"fullBleed":false,"options":{"theme":"news","device":"desktop","editionInfo":{"id":"uk","name":"U.K.","link":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk","locale":"en_GB"},"originalEdition":"uk","isMapi":false,"isAmp":false,"isAdsFree":false,"isVideoEntry":false,"isEntry":true,"isMt":false,"entryId":"67b322fee4b0cd020cc29138","entryPermalink":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/sky-presenter-slams-tories-over-criticism-of-defence-budget_uk_67b322fee4b0cd020cc29138","entryTagsList":"conservative-party,defence,alicia-kearns","sectionSlug":"politics","deptSlug":null,"sectionRedirectUrl":null,"subcategories":"","isWide":false,"headerOverride":null,"noVideoAds":false,"disableFloat":false,"isNative":false,"commercialVideo":{"provider":"custom","site_and_category":"uk.politics","package":null},"isHighline":false,"vidibleConfigValues":{"cid":"60afc140cf94592c45d7390c","disabledWithMapiEntries":false,"overrides":{"all":"60b8e525cdd90620331baaf4"},"whitelisted":["56c5f12ee4b03a39c93c9439","56c6056ee4b01f2b7e1b5f35","59bfee7f9e451049f87f550b","5acccbaac269d609ef44c529","570278d2e4b070ff77b98217","57027b4be4b070ff77b98d5c","56fe95c4e4b0041c4242016b","570279cfe4b06d08e3629954","5ba9e8821c2e65639162ccf1","5bcd9904821576674bc55ced","5d076ca127f25f504327c72e","5b35266b158f855373e28256","5ebac2e8abddfb04f877dff2","60b8e525cdd90620331baaf4","60b64354b171b7444beaff4d","60d0d8e09340d7032ad0fb1a","60d0d90f9340d7032ad0fbeb","60d0d9949340d7032ad0fed3","60d0d9f99340d7032ad10113","60d0daa69340d7032ad104cf","60d0de02b627221e9d819408"],"playlists":{"default":"57bc306888d2ff1a7f6b5579","news":"56c6dbcee4b04edee8beb49c","politics":"56c6dbcee4b04edee8beb49c","entertainment":"56c6e7f2e4b0983aa64c60fc","tech":"56c6f70ae4b043c5bdcaebf9","parents":"56cc65c2e4b0239099455b42","lifestyle":"56cc66a9e4b01f81ef94e98c"},"playerUpdates":{"56c6056ee4b01f2b7e1b5f35":"60b8e525cdd90620331baaf4","56c5f12ee4b03a39c93c9439":"60d0d8e09340d7032ad0fb1a","59bfee7f9e451049f87f550b":"60d0d90f9340d7032ad0fbeb","5acccbaac269d609ef44c529":"60d0d9949340d7032ad0fed3","5bcd9904821576674bc55ced":"60d0d9f99340d7032ad10113","5d076ca127f25f504327c72e":"60d0daa69340d7032ad104cf","5ebac2e8abddfb04f877dff2":"60d0de02b627221e9d819408"}},"connatixConfigValues":{"defaultPlayer":"8b034f64-513c-4987-b16f-42d6008f7feb","clickToPlayPlayer":"5a777b9b-81fe-41a6-8302-59e9953ee8a2","videoPagePlayer":"19654b65-409c-4b38-90db-80cbdea02cf4"},"topConnatixThumnbailSrc":"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAABCAQAAAC1HAwCAAAAC0lEQVR42mNkYAAAAAYAAjCB0C8AAAAASUVORK5CYII=","customAmpComponents":[],"ampAssetsUrl":"https://amp.assets.huffpost.com","videoTraits":null,"positionInUnitCounts":{"buzz_head":{"count":0},"buzz_body":{"count":0},"buzz_bottom":{"count":0}},"positionInSubUnitCounts":{"article_body":{"count":14},"blog_summary":{"count":0},"before_you_go_content":{"count":0}},"connatixCountsHelper":{"count":0},"buzzfeedTracking":{"context_page_id":"67b322fee4b0cd020cc29138","context_page_type":"buzz","destination":"huffpost","mode":"desktop","page_edition":"en-uk"},"tags":[{"name":"conservative party","slug":"conservative-party","links":{"relativeLink":"news/conservative-party","permalink":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/conservative-party","mobileWebLink":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/conservative-party"},"relegenceId":3696340,"section":{"title":"Politics","slug":"politics"},"topic":{"title":"Conservative Party","slug":"conservative-party","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/conservative-party/"},{"name":"defence","slug":"defence","links":{"relativeLink":"news/defence","permalink":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/defence","mobileWebLink":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/defence"},"url":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/defence/"},{"name":"Alicia Kearns","slug":"alicia-kearns","links":{"relativeLink":"news/alicia-kearns","permalink":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/alicia-kearns","mobileWebLink":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/alicia-kearns"},"url":"https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/alicia-kearns/"}],"isLiveblogLive":null,"isLiveblog":false,"cetUnit":"buzz_body","bodyAds":["

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Here’s Alicia Kearns(Tory MP) complaining that the govt haven’t increased defence spending since July.

Wilfred Frost: You’re trying to criticise the state of defence spending, 6 months into their govt, when this is a long-term issue after 14 years in power? pic.twitter.com/o5FJTXsW4u

— Haggis_UK 🇬🇧 🇪🇺 (@Haggis_UK) February 17, 2025

Kearns also said we “all have to worry” Trump will let Ukraine down.

Speaking to Times Radio, she said: “I think we all have to worry because the world has let down Ukraine consistently throughout its history. I mean, whether it was Yalta, whether it’s the last of years, whether it’s when Georgia was invaded.

“I was in Ukraine ten days before the renewed illegal invasion almost three years ago. And I sat there as German and French ambassadors told me that our intelligence assessments were absolutely wrong and that Putin wasn’t going to invade.

“We always seem to take Putin at his word and we always underestimate Ukrainians. I don’t understand how we keep repeating the same mistakes.”

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