RE: Uk-defence-innovation30 Jun 2026 11:03
Keir Starmer is unveiling plans for spending on the UK armed forces in a key speech - watch live above
He says an additional Β£15bn in funding has been allocated to defence - short of the Β£28bn the Ministry of Defence had asked for
UK defence spending will be Β£80bn a year by 2029, he says, adding that some road and energy projects will be scrapped
The defence investment plan (DIP) will include Β£5bn to increase the armed forces' use of drones and autonomous weapons - three key tests for the plan
It also includes plans for the Royal Navy to become a "hybrid navy", using self-controlled vessels and AI alongside warships and aircraft and funding for six new warships
The Conservatives say the plan is "too little, too late", while the Liberal Democrats say it "dangerously short-changed our armed forces"
Love the last paragraph as the conservatives helped put us in this position successively cutting the defence budget in last few governments.Now they're criticising how little is being raised now.On the tory note this is whats wrong with Britain one of Sunaks top sides betting on the next general election when he knew when it was going to be as he was in on the meeting. He got caught and is in court over it.He says it was zn error of misjudgment.I wonder what the penalty will be a month's supply of Gregg's sausage rolls instead of a custodial sentence he could and should get.The other thing is when he was found out he carried on his parliamentary duties.These are the people who are supposed to be setting the standards