Europe needs to spend more on defence, not just pretend to
1 week, 4 days ago

Europe needs to spend more on defence, not just pretend to

The Economist  

A s the British government drew up its annual budget in 2015, the sums came out wrong in a troubling way. Cuts across departments meant that spending on defence would come out just shy of 2% of GDP for the first time since the 1930s. That wouldn’t do: only a year earlier Britain had hosted NATO leaders as they formally agreed on the 2% figure, in response to Russia’s first crack at invading Ukraine. A few billion pounds of spending that had not in previous years been included in the defence budget was discreetly shuffled into it, in what was politely dubbed a “revised accounting strategy”. With the stroke of a pliable accountant’s pen, Britain’s defence budget now included pension payments to war widows and defence-ministry staff, as well as some intelligence spending and contributions to far-flung UN peacekeeping missions.

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History of this topic

EU does hasty reset of definition of defence spending
1 week, 3 days ago

EU does hasty reset of definition of defence spending

Hindustan Times  

* EU does hasty reset of definition of defence spending New definition needed as spending caps eased * 'Defence-relevant' items will qualify * But some countries want broader scope By Jan Strupczewski BRUSSELS, - When do state investments in arms factories, or the wages of tank crews and pilots not count as defence spending? On Thursday, EU leaders will study …

Cutting aid to spend more on defence: how do the numbers add up?
1 month ago

Cutting aid to spend more on defence: how do the numbers add up?

The Independent  

At Prime Minister’s Questions, Keir Starmer repeated his claim that the increase in defence spending he announced on Tuesday will amount to £13.4bn a year. Second, Tuesday’s decision was expressed as a share of GDP, and even though the economy is not growing as fast as people would like, it is forecast to grow over three years, so by fixing …

U.K. to increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP during 2027
1 month ago

U.K. to increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP during 2027

The Hindu  

The U.K. government will increase its defence spending to 2.5% of GDP during 2027 and maintain that level annually, up from the current level of 2.3%, U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer told the House of Commons on Tuesday. “I can announce that this government will begin the biggest sustained increase in defence spending since the end of the Cold War,” …

UK to hike defence spending and cut aid budget, Starmer says
1 month ago

UK to hike defence spending and cut aid budget, Starmer says

Al Jazeera  

British prime minister Keir Starmer’s announcement comes prior to his trip to the United States later this week. The United Kingdom will increase its annual defending spending to 2.5 percent of GDP by 2027, Prime Minister Keir Starmer has said, signalling the UK’s efforts to boost Europe’s security. On the eve of his departure to meet US President Donald Trump …

Can Britain afford to spend much more on defence?
1 month, 1 week ago

Can Britain afford to spend much more on defence?

The Independent  

Keir Starmer has declared that Europe is “facing a once-in-a-generation moment for the collective security of our continent”. He has called on European nations to increase defence spending: “Non-US Nato nations have already increased defence spending by 20 per cent in the past year, but we must go further.” President Donald Trump, to the alarm of many, has suggested the …

UK Public Services Brace for Cuts of Up to 11% to Fund Defense
1 month, 1 week ago

UK Public Services Brace for Cuts of Up to 11% to Fund Defense

Live Mint  

-- Some UK government departments are bracing for budget cuts of as much as 11% as Prime Minister Keir Starmer comes under mounting pressure to plow more money into defense. The Treasury has asked so-called unprotected public services outside of health, education and defense to model two scenarios ahead of a three-year spending review due in June, according to people …

How much should Britain really be spending on defence?
2 months ago

How much should Britain really be spending on defence?

The Independent  

Pressure, domestic and external, is growing on the government to increase defence spending markedly. Yesterday, the secretary general of Nato, Mark Rutte, called for member states to push their target beyond the 2 per cent of GDP set back in 2006, in the light of far greater international challenges. The most ministers will offer is that the “path” to the …

Fact check: Defence spending was mentioned in autumn Budget
4 months, 3 weeks ago

Fact check: Defence spending was mentioned in autumn Budget

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Referring to Sir Keir Starmer, she told the House of Commons: “His Chancellor’s Budget …

Lord Cameron calls on UK to boost defence budget in response to Russian threat
11 months, 3 weeks ago

Lord Cameron calls on UK to boost defence budget in response to Russian threat

The Telegraph  

The UK must boost its defence budget in response to the threat posed by Russia, Lord Cameron has said. The Foreign Secretary said that although Britain had increased its budget in recent times faster than other Nato countries, he recognised “the need for more defence spending”. “But as the PM, the Defence Secretary and the Chancellor have all said, we …

Budget 2023: Jeremy Hunt reveals £11bn for defence spending
2 years ago

Budget 2023: Jeremy Hunt reveals £11bn for defence spending

The Independent  

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Jeremy Hunt said Rishi Sunak’s government would add £11bn to Britain’s …

British Army ‘in urgent need of recapitalisation’, defence minister admits
2 years, 1 month ago

British Army ‘in urgent need of recapitalisation’, defence minister admits

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Please try again later {{ …

Britain’s defence spending to double to £100bn next year, says Ben Wallace
2 years, 6 months ago

Britain’s defence spending to double to £100bn next year, says Ben Wallace

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Britain’s defence spending …

Defence budget will not rise despite Ukraine war, Rishi Sunak signals
3 years ago

Defence budget will not rise despite Ukraine war, Rishi Sunak signals

The Telegraph  

It had previously been suggested that the defence budget may increase amid concerns about the UK’s readiness for war if the conflict in Ukraine draws in Nato countries. Ministers are already planning to reduce troop numbers from 82,000 73,000 by 2025, while the high rate of inflation means the defence budget is shrinking in real terms, despite the planned top-up …

Defence Budget 2021: Myths and Realities of the defence budget infrastructure
4 years, 1 month ago

Defence Budget 2021: Myths and Realities of the defence budget infrastructure

The Quint  

“Immense expense is mainly in defence” has a pleasing rhyme but does not reflect reality. The reality is that the total allocation for defence in the Union Budget 2021-22 is Rs 4.78 lakh crore including defence pensions, which is a marginal hike compared to Rs 4.71 lakh crore last year, a paltry increase of 1.48 percent as compared to 1.82 …

UK defence budget gets a big boost, but will the money be spent wisely?
4 years, 4 months ago

UK defence budget gets a big boost, but will the money be spent wisely?

The Independent  

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. To achieve this we need to upgrade our capabilities across the board.” The investment, it …

Government 'slightly deluded the public' over affordability of UK defence programme, says former army chief
6 years, 9 months ago

Government 'slightly deluded the public' over affordability of UK defence programme, says former army chief

The Independent  

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Ministers have “slightly deluded the public” and are “living a lie” …

MoD accused of using ‘creative accounting’ to meet Nato commitment on defence spending
8 years, 11 months ago

MoD accused of using ‘creative accounting’ to meet Nato commitment on defence spending

The Independent  

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. While the changes were in line with Nato guidelines, the Committee warned that this “redefinition” …

Budget 2016: An Intriguing Trapeze in Defence Expenditure
9 years ago

Budget 2016: An Intriguing Trapeze in Defence Expenditure

The Quint  

The defence outlay of the annual Budget is usually announced by the Finance Minister in the latter half of his speech in parliament and is relatively predictable. A certain figure is announced – usually a marginal increase over the previous year – and a solemn rider added, that the country will always provide what is necessary for the ‘defence’ of …

Labour supports spending 2% of GDP on defence to meet NATO target
9 years, 5 months ago

Labour supports spending 2% of GDP on defence to meet NATO target

The Independent  

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Labour is committed to the principle of spending two per cent …

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