Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Politics
Heather Stewart Economics editor

Reeves grudgingly resorts to departmental salami slicing to fund UK defence budget

John Healey United Kingdom Sir Keir Starmer Rachel Reeves
Keir Starmer looks on as John Healey makes a speech
Keir Starmer looks on as defence secretary John Healey makes a speech. Healey resigned on Thursday. Photograph: Adrian Dennis/AFP Pool/AP

When Keir Starmer wanted to promise Donald Trump that the UK would increase defence spending, he decided to fund it by slashing the UK’s aid budget – losing a cabinet minister, Anneliese Dodds, in the process.

This time around, with John Healey’s Ministry of Defence (MoD) demanding an additional £18.5bn over four years to fund the defence investment plan, there was no such lever to hand.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Cyndi Lauper defends working with Nicki Minaj despite rapper’s support for Trump
Rapper has become one of the president’s most famous supporters
The Independent UK
The Independent UK
Doctors Were the Butt of 40% of Facebook Doctor Jokes, but the Most-Liked One Skewered a Lawyer
Researchers combed 30,075 Facebook posts for doctor jokes. Physicians were the usual target, but the most-liked punchline hit a lawyer.
Medical Daily
Medical Daily
Fridge or not? What’s the best way to store bread?
Our experts have some airtight advice to stop your loaf from going stale
The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Not enjoying being a parent? You’re not alone. Here’s how to handle this complicated feeling
We’re often told parenting is one of the most rewarding things we’ll ever do. But as many parents will attest, it is also full of very difficult moments. And sometimes these moments seem almost constant.
The Conversation
The Conversation
A warm, sumptuous tale of two Coppolas
As "Marie Antoinette" turns 20, Eleanor and Sofia Coppola's documentary reveals new resonance
Salon
Salon
Cyndi Lauper on fun, fashion and freedom of expression: ‘We have braces on our brains’
As she auctions off her treasures, the synth-pop savant opens up about her eccentric style and why she doesn’t believe in cancel culture
The Guardian - US
The Guardian - US
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.
Download on the AppStore Get it on Google Play