Strategic defence review live: Starmer warns of Russia threat as he launches plan to ready UK for war – UK Times

Sir Keir Starmer confirmed plans for new defence measures during his speech on Monday.

The prime minister confirmed the government will commission 12 new attack submarines – with one to be delivered every 18 months.

The Independent’s Political Correspondent Archie Mitchell reports:

Sir Keir Starmer has said the UK is learning the lessons of Ukraine and will deliver an army 10 times more lethal than it is now by 2035.

The prime minister said he has spoken repeatedly to Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky about ensuring all aspects of Britain’s military “work seamlessly together”.

“To ensure that drones, destroyers, AI, aircraft, and each different branch of our armed services are fully integrated,” he said.

Sir Keir Starmer has agains refused to make a firm commitment to raising defence spending to 3 per cent of GDP.

Speaking in Glasgow as he unveiled new defence plans, he said: “We have already acted, announcing the largest sustained increase in defence spending since the end of the cold war. Raising it to 2.5 per cent of defence spending by 2027.

“Setting the ambition to hit 3 percent in the next parliament. Subject to economic and fiscal conditions.”

The Independent’s Political Correspondent Archie Mitchell reports:

Sir Keir Starmer has said he learned on a visit to a nuclear submarine that their motto is “nothing works unless we all work together”.

Unveiling his strategic defence review, he said the motto now applies to the whole country.

Sir Keir said: “The strategic defencee review that I’m launching today will bring that unity to the whole of the United Kingdom, to mobilise the nation in a common cause, recognising in these dangerous times that when it comes to defence of the realm and the defence of everything that we hold dear, nothing works unless we all work together.”

He added: “Every citizen of this country has a role to play.”

Sir Keir Starmer has begun to unveil the government’s new defence plans.

Speaking from a shipyard in Glasgow, the prime minister is announcing details of the long-awaited strategic defence review.

He began by describing a visit to a British nuclear submarine: “It was very clear to me that there is no greater duty than the one that they carry. No task more vital. Our security, Nato’s security, depends on them.”

The Conservatives and Lib Dems have questioned Labour’s commitment to funding its new defence pledges

Shadow defence secretary James Cartlidge suggested his counterpart Mr Healey had been “hung out to dry by Rachel Reeves” over the 3 per cent target.

“All of Labour’s strategic defence review promises will be taken with a pinch of salt unless they can show there will actually be enough money to pay for them,” he added.

Lib Dem defence spokesperson Helen Maguire said the 2034 timeline for the commitment “suggests a worrying lack of urgency from the Government”.

She also said: “Unless Labour commits to holding cross-party talks on how to reach 3 per cent much more rapidly than the mid-2030s, this announcement risks becoming a damp squib.”

The government has to faced tough questions on its lack of promises on raising defence spending.

Sir Keir Starmer has said he has an “ambition” to raise defence spending up to 3 per cent of GDP in the next parliament.

However, he has stopped short of making a firm commitment to achieve the goal.

The Prime Minister told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “We had a commitment for 2.5 per cent by the end of this Parliament. We pulled that right forward to 2027.

“We showed that when we say there’s a new era of the defence and security of our country, is our first priority – as it is – that we meant it. We take the same approach to 3 per cent.

“But I’m not going to indulge in the fantasy politics of simply plucking dates from the air until I’m absolutely clear that I can sit here in an interview with you and tell you exactly how that’s going to work, because I take the defence and security of our country extremely seriously.”

The Government has pledged to raise the UK’s defence spending to 2.5 per cent of GDP – a measure of the country’s economic output – by 2027.

But on Sunday, Defence Secretary John Healey sidestepped questions about whether he had any guarantee from the Treasury to provide the funding for the 3 per cent target by the end of the next Parliament, when asked on the BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg programme.

Sir Keir Starmer is set to unveil the government’s long-awaited strategic defence review shortly.

The prime minister will announce new measures and then face questions from members of the media in Scotland.

We will bring you the latest updated here.