Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is attending a NATO summit in Turkey today in what the Daily Mail casts as his final appearance on the world stage before he hands power to Andy Burnham in under a fortnight. The paper reports he faces criticism from US President Donald Trump over a defence spending plan seen as falling short, an outcome that matters because it frames the departing PM as diminished at a moment when NATO allies are being pressed to commit far more to their militaries.

Starmer's defence investment plan (DIP) — which followed lengthy Whitehall wrangling and the resignation of Defence Secretary John Healey — promised an extra £15billion over five years, but is described as largely unfunded and lacking a firm timetable for reaching 3 per cent of GDP. Trump, who has pushed NATO towards a higher 3.5 per cent target by 2035, is expected to voice his displeasure and has previously clashed with Starmer, branding him "no Churchill" for declining to join US action against Iran. The two leaders are not scheduled to meet one-on-one, and Trump reportedly congratulated Nigel Farage when Starmer announced his resignation.