Sir Keir Starmer has finally unveiled his long-delayed Defence Investment Plan, but it falls far short of what the military has said is needed, as well as the Nato pledge of 3% and what key allies are spending. The Mail has more.
Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves congratulated each other on finally agreeing a defence plan today – even though it is far short of what the military said was needed.
The PM and Chancellor, who only have weeks left before Andy Burnham takes over, hailed a £15 billion funding package at a launch in Maidenhead.
But there was no mention of former Defence Secretary John Healey, who quit earlier this month when No. 10 and the Treasury would not increase the boost from £13.5 billion over the next four years.
Sir Keir insisted the proposals were the “right choice for the country” in a desperate speech talking up his legacy, but admitted they would mean some road and energy projects being scrapped.
In one awkward moment suggesting his mind is on the World Cup, Sir Keir called a question from from “Sky Sports” instead of Sky News.
Reeves also delivered what amounted to a valedictory statement, referring to the little-understood “Secur-o-comics” conceit from her “two years as Chancellor”.
The pair appear to have put mounting tensions behind them as the end of their terms in office loom, with Reeves introducing the premier as “my friend, our PM, Keir Starmer”.
Sir Keir is still facing a bruising showdown with Donald Trump at the Nato summit next week.
Critics say the £15 billion extra funding over the next four years is “too little too late”, and will include massaged figures and repackaged promises.
There is also still no timetable for pushing defence spending to 3% of GDP, let alone the 3.5% the US President is demanding.
Healey and his former deputy Al Carns, who also resigned earlier this month, are poised to make what could be highly damaging interventions in the Commons later.
The PM’s last big moment on the world stage could now be extremely tricky. Sir Keir is due to attend the Nato summit in Turkey alongside Trump, who has been highly critical over the lack of military investment.
The member states have committed to spending 3.5% of GDP on defence, with an extra 1.5% on ‘resilience’ measures.
A White House official sent another shot across the bows of the UK and other allies last night, saying: “President Trump expects Nato allies to abide by their 5% defence spending pledge.”
Sir Keir is on track to be out of Downing Street on July 20th, with Burnham closing in on a ‘coronation’.
His allies had pushed to delay the DIP until after he had taken charge.
It is far from clear what the former Greater Manchester mayor will do on defence, after he gave his first big speech yesterday but refused to answer any questions.
The plans include a £5 billion drone “transformation”, but it has emerged just £1 billion of this is fresh investment, with a £4 billion drone programme having been announced last year.
Worth reading in full.
The Telegraph notes that the plan, “which was delayed by more than a year after a funding row with the Treasury and triggered John Healey’s resignation last month, puts Britain far behind Nato allies by pledging to spend just 2.69% of GDP on defence by 2030”.
Discussion
Comments
This week across the site:
To join in with the discussion please make a donation to the Daily Sceptic.
Profanity and abuse will be removed and may lead to a permanent ban.
Shouldn’t a defence plan remain secret?
That photo reminds me of something I’ve often wondered:
Why do all the global leaders and top politicians go all “kissy-huggy” with each other at political meetings? Is that what ordinary people do with their bosses and colleagues at work meetings?
“No!” is the answer. Men have been sacked for less. So why do all these top politicians and international leaders do that? Is it evidence that they’re in some kind of Illuminati Coven, as some say?
Kiss cam: Merkel meets world leaders at G20 | World News | Sky News
Handshakes only at all work meetings I have ever been at. Hugs etc with personal friends, some of whom happen to be work colleagues – but only when socialising out of work hours, never at work. Mrs ToF is Italian so I had to get used to being kissed and hugged a lot, though this seems to be becoming more common among Brits too. Back when we first met 37 years ago, it was a shock!
🙂
‘it is our intelligence assessment, and the assessment of other countries in NATO, that there could be an attack by Russia on NATO as soon as 2030.’
Starmer 05 June 2026
But the DIP has us only a little bit ready by 2035.
Genius!
The less we spend the better given how bad the MOD are at military equipment procurement. Insisting on specials that are more expensive, come in over budget and late, and turn out to be pretty useless.
So true! I wonder if that has been deliberate subversion, either by the suppliers or procurers or middlemen?
Starmer is bleeding the UK dry.
If you add in the indirect costs of the energy crisis caused by Europe and UK “choosing” to ban cheap Russian fuel the total cost of the Ukraine war to the UK comes to £106 billion.
In the first two years of the war, according to the most recent government figures, Britain gave £12.8 billion to support Ukraine directly plus £0.7 billion supporting Ukrainian refugees.
The UK have now pledged another £3+ billion per year to Ukraine to continue a proxy war the US started.
Russia are no threat to anyone who doesn’t threaten them.
The UK and Europe backed the wrong side as Russia were totally “justified” in the actions they have taken against Ukraine.
Diverting more money from infrastructure to defence from a non-existent threat from Russia is madness.
Rodney was trying to do a Churchill while in the UK drone factory. The Russia hating elite are supplying these drones with targeting and operational assistance to Ukraine and attacking energy and infrastructure targets deep into Russia. Putin is not being restrained by the Kremlin and population but pushed to retaliate against the UK and European countries. At present the UK has no defence against hypersonic and medium range ballistic missiles which could destroy the drone factory and energy import structures.
This disastrous PM is obviously completely obsessed with his hatred of Putin and unaware of the reasons for the Invasion of Ukraine resulting from the coup and persecution of Russian speaking Ukrainians. The war crimes that he referred to were , according to an independent journalist, not committed by retreating Russian troops but by the Azovs who found the local people has been too friendly to the Russians. He is also apparently unaware of the extent of corruption around his dear friends in the Ukraine government.
‘We are going through a difficult period’ Putin 28 June 2026
‘Putin is gradually being forced to publicly admit more and more about the reality of the war. In that respect, Ukraine’s long-term aim of bringing that reality home to Russians across the country is beginning to succeed,” says Keir Giles, associate fellow of the Russia and Eurasia Programme at Chatham House and an expert on the Russian military.’
“Volodymyr Zelensky and his Western backers have launched a desperate 40-day “campaign of terrors” — which includes a mix of military escalations and a massive information/psyops operation designed to portray Russia as collapsing and Putin as facing an imminent uprising or coup. The goal is to force Russia into a ceasefire. Western audiences are being flooded with social media and regular media articles that paint a dire picture of Russia’s military campaign, while touting Ukraine’s incredible accomplishments. It is all a load of crap, but that is all the West has left in its quiver as Russia’s campaign of attrition continues to pulverize Ukraine.
The Western-led propaganda campaign consists of the following elements:
Information Warfare — Heavy push of 24/7 propaganda about Putin’s “imminent downfall,” including staged videos of supposed Russian soldiers announcing a mutiny. Fake Psyops — Coordinated attempts to stoke panic in Russia (e.g., false claims of fuel/gas shortages, which were partly caused by panic buying triggered by the rumors). Symbolic Actions — Staged drone flag-drops (e.g., on the Kinburn Spit near Crimea) meant to symbolize Russian retreat and collapse — quickly debunked and mocked. Broader Objective — Combine these narratives with actual strikes on Russian infrastructure to… Read more »
‘With no end to Russia’s war with Ukraine in sight, a record-high 60% of Russians interviewed between March and May said their local economic conditions are getting worse. Less than half as many (27%) said things are getting better.
This marks the first time since 2006 that a majority of Russian adults have said their economy is getting worse.
Moscow’s pared-back Victory Day parade in May offered a visible sign that Russia remains far from victorious in Ukraine. Shortly after the full-scale invasion, when Russia hoped to take Kyiv in a matter of days, Russian public opinion rallied around the flag, and people grew considerably more positive about many areas of life.
More than four years later, pessimism has replaced that initial optimism. Pessimism about the economy and living standards has reached a record high. Job market optimism has sunk, as has confidence in key national institutions and perceptions of media freedom.
Russian ministers have admitted publicly in recent months that the economy is overheating, with the effects now showing up in the public’s mood.’
Gallop 30 June 2026
It’s Gallup and Monro is still an anagram of Moron.
Ha-ha! Nice one! 😂
*Gallup
Good change of subject…
Rachel to Keir, reference the photo, “Look Keir, there is no way you are getting your tongue down my throat”
More borrowing.
Secur-o-comics? Is that a typo?
It suggests Euro-Comics.