Keir Starmer defends uncertainty over defence spending target June 2, 2025 Sir Keir Starmer has defended not setting a precise date for when the UK will deliver its “ambition” to spend three per cent of GDP on defence. The Prime Minister is facing backlash after the government appeared to row back from an important target ahead of Monday’s strategic defence review announcement. Starmer told the BBC [...]
UK must be prepared for conflict in Europe or Atlantic, defence review to conclude June 2, 2025 The UK plans to build up to 12 new nuclear-powered attack submarines, it will be announced on Monday as the government unveils its strategic defence review. The 130-page document will conclude UK must prepare for conflict in Europe or the Atlantic and move to “war-fighting readiness” as a countermeasure to Russian aggression. But Sir Keir [...]
Defence review a response to ‘world of growing threats,’ says Healey June 1, 2025 The strategic defence review will send a “message to Moscow” amid daily Russian cyber attacks on the UK, the defence secretary John Healey has said. “This is a message to Moscow as well. This is Britain standing behind, making our armed forces stronger but making our industrial base stronger, and this is part of our readiness to fight, if [...]
Government plan to build munitions factories to ‘better deter our adversaries’ May 31, 2025 Building at least six munitions and energetics factories will “better deter our adversaries”, defence secretary John Healey has said as part of plans for an “always on” weapons pipeline. The Government has pledged £1.5bn as part of the strategic defence review (SDR) to set up at least six factories, and will support the procurement of [...]
Ukrainian girl killed and another hurt in Russian missile attack May 31, 2025 A Russian missile has hit a front-line region in Ukraine, killing a child and injuring another, as uncertainty remains as to whether Kyiv diplomats will attend a new round of peace talks proposed by Moscow for early next week in Istanbul. Russian troops launched some 109 drones and five missiles across Ukraine overnight and into [...]
Reform’s plans to scrap next zero would cost investors and push up taxes May 30, 2025 Far from saving money, Reform’s plans to scrap net zero would deter private investment that is already committed and cost more in the long-run. Proof, if it were needed, that Nigel Farage’s party has abandoned all pretence at economic credibility, says Sam Hall With his announcements on benefits this week, Nigel Farage has abandoned any [...]
Britain can claim top Honours in final Group One of the Hong Kong season May 23, 2025 EXPECT the grandstands to be packed to the rafters when Sha Tin features their final Group One contest of the season, the Standard Chartered Champions & Chaters Cup (9.10am), run over a mile-and-a-half on Sunday morning. Spectators are in for a treat with the city’s champion Romantic Warrior on show in a ‘Welcome Home’ ceremony [...]
Defence boom will continue long after Ukraine war, says Panmure May 19, 2025 An end to hostilties in Ukraine would only be a short-term setback for the share price of European defence manufacturers, according to analysts. The International Institute for Strategic Studies (ISS) said last week that in the case of a mid-2025 ceasefire in Ukraine, Russia could rearm and attack a Baltic state as soon as 2027. [...]
Britain’s space launch programme could be thwarted by NATO May 19, 2025 Aspirations of UK space launch will soon collide with the new geopolitical realities of global security, writes Susan Walton.
UK condemns Russian drone strike that left nine dead in Ukraine May 17, 2025 The UK has condemned a Russian drone attack that killed nine people in Ukraine early on Saturday. The attack, which struck a passenger bus in Ukraine’s north-eastern Sumy region, came just hours after the first face-to-face talks between Ukrainian and Russian negotiations in Istanbul, Turkey. Foreign Secretary David Lammy said he was “appalled” by the [...]