Starmer unlikely to unveil plan for rise in defence spending this week, says minister

<p>Bridget Phillipson calls 2.5% target ‘ambitious’ days before PM meets with Donald Trump in Washington</p><p>Keir Starmer is unlikely to set out a plan for when the UK will increase its defence spending to 2.5% of GDP this week, a cabinet minister has indicated.</p><p>Bridget Phillipson, the education secretary, said the 2.5% target was “ambitious”, despite Labour previously claiming it would set out a path to meeting this spending goal after the strategic defence review in the spring.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2025/feb/23/starmer-unlikely-to-unveil-plan-for-rise-in-defence-spending-this-week-says-minister">Continue reading...</a>