Labour Party Pledges to Match Conservatives' Defence Spending at 2.5% of GDP
The UK's Labour Party, currently leading in opinion polls ahead of an expected election this year, plans to increase defense spending to 2.5% of the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
This matches the Conservative party's intentions and reflects the increased international threats and volatility in the world.
Labour leader Keir Starmer stated that defense is the top priority for any government in such circumstances.
The Labour Party leader, Keir Starmer, has pledged to increase defense spending to 2.5% of GDP as soon as resources permit.
He also reaffirmed Labour's commitment to the UK's nuclear deterrent, the Trident system, in the face of global threats and Russian aggression.
If Labour wins the election, there will be a review of defense and security spending to ensure priorities are correct and reduce procurement waste.
Keir Starmer, the current Labour Party leader, supports Britain's Trident nuclear weapons system in contrast to his predecessor Jeremy Corbyn.
The Conservative Party, historically known for prioritizing defence spending, pledged in March to increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP once the economy permits it, up from the current 2.2%.
The annual cost of operating Trident is approximately 3 billion pounds, and the new submarine fleet, scheduled to be operational from the early 2030s, is projected to cost 31 billion pounds.