Leaders clash on UK defence spending levels

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak claimed Labour was refusing to back his party's plan to increase spending on defence, recalling how some opposition frontbenchers had previously voted against nuclear weapons.

Sir Keir Starmer said he was the first to call for a 2.5% commitment on defence spending, and Labour was the last administration to achieve that.

The exchanges came after Monday’s speech from the PM, which looked at international threats to Britain.

15 May 2024