Politics latest: Starmer has 'very clear' message for Putin - but PM accused of 'playing with fire' over defence spending (2024)

Donald Trump could be re-elected as US president in November, and he has previously cast doubt on whether they should provide funding for Ukraine's defence.

As Sir Keir Starmer and NATO allies head to Washington DC for a key summit, we asked armed forces minister Luke Pollard if they are concerned about a drop in support for Ukraine if Trump is re-elected.

He replied: "We want all our allies to be supporting Ukraine. That's our expectation.

"And we'll work with every single one of them, regardless of political stripe, to make sure they do so, because Ukraine's security is all our security.

"It's important for the United Kingdom as indeed it is for United States, that Russia does not win in Ukraine, because if they do win in Ukraine, they won't stop with Ukraine."

Keeping the world safe "means every country, NATO, supporting that effort, which they are, and I expect them to continue to do so".

Sir Keir Starmer has refused to say when the UK will raise defence spending to 2.5% of GDP as he heads to NATO to urge other allies to raise their own spending.

We've just been speaking with armed forces minister Luke Pollard, and we asked for a bit more clarity.

He told us: "We've committed to increase defence spend 2.5%, and the first step in that is a strategic defence review that will look at the capabilities that we need to deter the aggression that the UK and our allies are facing.

"That strategic defence review will be launched next week.

"We need that review to set out, importantly, what we want to spend that increased defence spending on, and what sequence that will be spent.

Mr Pollard said the review will conclude "within the next year", and said: "We need it to be as urgent as we can. That's why we will be delivering this at pace, as fast as we can."

He agreed with Sky's Kay Burley that the money to improve our defence capabilities is needed now - but explained that the defence review is needed to decide where that new money should be best spent.

Burley then put to him that they didn't do any homework before arriving in office, which is why another year is needed - but he rejected that, saying: "In opposition you don't get access to the classified briefings, the intelligence that would be required to set out what size and shape our armed forces should be."

On a more immediate basis, the minister said they are addressing the "retention and recruitment crisis" to ensure joining the armed forces is easier, and their housing is improved.

Sky News' deputy political editor Sam Coates and Politico's Jack Blanchard are back in your podcast feeds with their guide to the day ahead in politics.

They discuss what's on the table at the prime minister's first NATO meeting and dinner with Joe Biden, whether the rumours are true that Labour could introduce digital ID cards, and what is really the new government's number one priority. Plus, who is leading in the ongoing Tory leadership race.

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The UK is in a relatively unusual position as Sir Keir Starmer jets off for his first NATO summit as prime minister.

Given the struggles of Joe Biden, Emmanuel Macron, and some other Western leaders, ourUS correspondent Mark Stonesays the prime minister comes to Washington DC looking relatively strong given his enormous election win.

"Politically he is in a much stronger position than many colleagues he will meet," says Stone, who'll be at the summit.

Sir Keir will be among the leaders of the 31 other NATO members for a summit being described "as the biggest event of its kind for three decades" given the ongoing war in Ukraine.

Stone says that sometimes in politics "timing is luck" - "and it's certainly luck for Starmer that so soon after he took office, he is in Washington".

He'll also meet Joe Biden at the White House while he's in town.

Sir Keir Starmer will tell NATO allies that the UK has a "cast iron commitment" to lifting the UK's defence spending to 2.5% of GDP, but is refusing to honour that commitment in his first term in government.

On a flight over to Washington, where NATO allies are gathering for thealliance's 75th anniversary, the prime minister insisted that hitting the 2.5% was "subject to our fiscal rules".

He refused repeatedly to commit to delivering on the commitment in his first term or offer a timeline for delivery ahead of the strategic defence review, which could take up to a year to conclude.

Sir Keir told Sky News: "We are committed to the 2.5% as I have said before the election and I say again after the election. That is subject to our fiscal rules but the commitment is there.

"The strategic review will take place - that will happen next week and we will set out the details of that. The manifesto commitment was that it would take place within a year.

"I would like it to happen quicker than that if I'm honest and we'll set out details about how we are going to do it."

However, Sir Keir was accused by a former colonel in British military intelligence of "playing with fire" for delaying the decision on defence spending until after the review.

Philip Ingram said "it will take years to fix the army, our ammunition stocks, get the RAF and navy ready".

Lord West of Spithead, a former head of the navy who was a security minister under a previous Labour government, said Labour should outline a timeline during the summit to "set an example to all European countries".

Read Beth's full report here:

Prime Minister Keir Starmer arrived in the early hours of the morning (UK time), where he will attend his first NATO summit just days after taking over the top job.

On the flight over, he was asked about a Russian strike on a children's hospital in Ukraine - and what his message is to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Sir Keir said this attack was "appalling", adding that his message is "very, very clear".

"This NATO summit is an opportunity for allies to stand together to strengthen their resolve, particularly in light of that appalling attack against Russian aggression," he added.

When will UK boost defence spending?

Sir Keir was also asked about a comment from General Sir Patrick Sanders, who has warned the world is facing "as dangerous a moment as any time that we've had since 1945".

With this in mind, can Sir Keir put a timeline on spending 2.5% of GDP on defence?

"I'm committed to that 2.5% within our fiscal rule," he said.

Sir Keir said, for now, it's about "discussing practically how we provide further support for Ukraine and send a very, very clear message to Putin that we will stand against Russian aggression wherever it is in the world".

Good morning!

Welcome back to the Politics Hub on this Wednesday, 10 July.

Here's what's happening in politics today:

• Sir Keir Starmer arrived at the NATO summit in Washington DC in the early hours of the morning (UK time);
• Just days after being elected prime minister, he will meet with the leaders of the UK's closest allies and push them to raise spending on defence;
• He said on the flight over that the UK has a "cast-iron commitment" to raising defence spending to 2.5% of GDP - but refused to say when that would happen when asked by journalists, including Sky's Beth Rigby;
• He is announcing that the planned strategic defence review will start next week to understand the UK's defensive and military status, and said he hopes it will take less than a year;
• The PM will meet with a series of world leaders today, and also attend a meeting of the North Atlantic Council - before he plans to keep half an eye on England's crucial Euros game against the Netherlands this evening;
• Back in Westminster, MPs will continue to be sworn in by the Speaker as they start the new parliamentary term;
• And rumblings around the Tory leadership race will continue after the (somewhat chaotic) election of Bob Blackman as chair of the powerful 1922 committee, which decides how and when such contests are conducted.

We'll discuss all of that and more with:

• Luke Pollard, armed forces minister, at 7.15am;
• James Cartlidge, shadow defence secretary, at 8.15am.

Follow along for the latest political news.

Thanks for joining us for a very busy day for the new Labour government - and there's plenty more to come this week.

You can scroll through the page for today's updates, or check our 10pm post for a round-up of Tuesday's most significant news.

We'll be back at 6am with all the latest from Westminster.

The chancellor has revealed plans for a new national wealth fund designed to attract billions in private sector investment.

The new Labour government said it has allocated £7.3bn in additional state funding to support the plan.

The proposals include reforms to the state-owned British Business Bank.

Rachel Reeves met with a nine-strong National Wealth Fund Taskforce at Number 11 Downing Street in order to launch the plans.

The taskforce includes former Bank of England governor Mark Carney, Barclays chief executive officer CS Venkatakrishnan and Aviva chief executive Amanda Blanc.

'Further, faster'

Ms Reeves said the funding will be used to target green and high-growth British industries, stressing there is "no time to waste".

The chancellor added: "We need to go further and faster if we are to fix the foundations of our economy to rebuild Britain and make every part of our country better off."

It's the end of the day - which means it's time for a round-up of the main things you need to know from the Politics Hub.

• Sir Keir Starmer is en route to Washington DC as you read this for his first NATO summit, where he'll meet world leaders including Joe Biden;
• Our US correspondent Mark Stoke says he goes on the trip in a "much stronger position" than many of his allies, given his massive election win - we'll have live updates and analysis from the trip starting tomorrow.

• Back in the UK, parliament has returned and the Speaker re-elected, with the cabinet and shadow cabinet having been sworn in;
• Sir Keir Starmerwelcomed the diversity of the new parliament in his first Commons speech as PM, whileRishi Sunakvowed the Tories would be an "effective and professional" opposition;
• The return of parliament allowed the Tories to elect the chair of their backbench 1922 Committee, which runs the party's leadership contests;
• But our political correspondent Darren McCaffrey is getting the sense from Conservatives that the contest may not happen for several months, as the battle for the soul of the party commences.

• Elsewhere, Health Secretary Wes Streeting says he's "optimistic" after his first meeting with representatives of junior doctors, as he seeks an end to the pay dispute that has caused industrial action;
• Our political correspondent Tamara Cohen said there may only be "a matter of weeks" to find an agreement before the BMA union holds a vote on holding more strikes.
  

That's it for our final bulletin of the day - stay with us for more news and analysis through the evening.