Starmer says he wants to increase UK defence spending to 3% - and announces foreign aid cut

Reducing dependence on crackpot America is good in my book, as long as we're not going to just spend that budget with them anyway.

But for gods sake get rid of the tax exemption on wealth to pay for it instead of cutting things that people actually need.

I think the 3% target is intended for the next parliament though. The target he wants to hit in this parliament is 2.5% from 2027 onwards.

I guess raising defence spending makes sense so that the UK can better protect itself from threats like Russia.

The prime minister, in an unexpected statement in parliament, announced spending would be increased to 2.5% of the UK's GDP by 2027.

He also announced the government would cut back on foreign aid, reducing current spending from 0.5% of GDP to 0.3%.

Bit depressing that they can find the cash for weapons.

So they read the transatlantic cables, and this is what they come up with?

All around a win for China it seems.