Wes Streeting urged Labour’s left-wing activists not to oppose increased defence spending, arguing that investment in national security does not come at the expense of public services. His remarks came as union leaders promoted a campaign to prioritise wages over weapons and sought to block further spending on the Armed Forces.

The article says UK defence spending is 2.7 per cent of GDP, compared with more than 4 per cent in Poland and a planned 3.5 per cent in Germany by 2030. The UK is expected to set out a route to reach 3.5 per cent by 2035, the NATO deadline cited in the article. UCU general secretary Jo Grady called for better wages, while former Labour candidate Faiza Shaheen said Britain could be proud to abolish its Armed Forces, pointing to Costa Rica.