Keir Starmer refuses to set date for UK to spend 3% of GDP on defence

PM says he will not indulge in ‘performative fantasy politics’ before launching strategic defence review

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Keir Starmer has refused to give a date for the UK to spend at least 3% of GDP on defence, saying he would not indulge in “performative fantasy politics”, as he prepared to launch the government’s strategic defence review.

Speaking at a defence facility in Scotland, the prime minister said his commitment to hit 2.5% of GDP on defence spending from 2027 showed he was serious about the issue, but that he could not go further without fiscal certainty.