Starmer says he wants to increase UK defence spending to 3% - and announces foreign aid cut
UK defence spending to rise to 2.5% of GDP by 2027 - as Starmer hits out at 'tyrant' Putin
I think the 3% target is intended for the next parliament though. The target he wants to hit in this parliament is 2.5% from 2027 onwards.
I guess raising defence spending makes sense so that the UK can better protect itself from threats like Russia.
........ and the United States. These tiered increases aren't going to do much at all in the short term. UK does have nukes which protect it's borders, but it's not going to do anything for mainland Europe.
Apparently France may use its nukes to protect Europe, according to The Telegraph (whether they're right, I don't know). Maybe Europe together should develop a joint nuclear weapons program. Then British nukes wouldn't have to depend on US missiles anymore.
Reducing dependence on crackpot America is good in my book, as long as we're not going to just spend that budget with them anyway.
But for gods sake get rid of the tax exemption on wealth to pay for it instead of cutting things that people actually need.
The prime minister, in an unexpected statement in parliament, announced spending would be increased to 2.5% of the UK's GDP by 2027.
He also announced the government would cut back on foreign aid, reducing current spending from 0.5% of GDP to 0.3%.
Bit depressing that they can find the cash for weapons.
Jeremy Hunt wants to cut benefits to pay for this increased defence spending. They'll do anything before taxing rich people more.
Bit depressing that they can find the cash for weapo
Defence increase (by 2027) is entirly funded by aid reduction.
So seems that was the only way to fund it.
"we haven't had free health care ever" ~ americans
"Your government spends more per capita on healthcare through Medicare, Medicaid and government employee insurance than any country with universal healthcare" ~ the rest of the world
All around a win for China it seems.
So they read the transatlantic cables, and this is what they come up with?