Defence Spending Raised to 2.5% of GDP — Funded by Cutting Foreign Aid

On 25 February 2025 Starmer committed the UK to raising defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027 — three years earlier than the previous Conservative government's pledge, and, per Starmer, "the biggest sustained increase in defence spending since the end of the Cold War." The June 2025 Spending Review confirmed a further rise to 2.6% by April 2027. The increase is funded by cutting the overseas aid budget from 0.5% of gross national income to 0.3%.

Keir Starmer — Labour Party

In power 2024–2026