England bid for Euro glory and Starmer’s defence plan

Several papers lead on the Nato summit in Washington.

The Guardian says Sir Keir Starmer will urge other countries in the alliance, external[1] to increase their defence spending to 2.5% of their economic output.

According to the Times,, external[2] the prime minister has been accused of "playing with fire", because he is delaying a decision to increase the UK's military budget until after a major review of the armed forces.

The paper says that could take months, and some former military leaders say investment in the forces can't wait, given the gravity of the threats facing the UK.

The Daily Telegraph says the review will consider an increase in the size of the armed forces., external[3] The paper says that will include troop numbers, which have been cut to their smallest size since the Napoleonic era.

According to the article, the review will focus on the changing threats of warfare, including a focus on drones.

Separately, in an editorial, the Telegraph urges European Nato powers to start taking greater responsibility, external[4] for their own security, and increase defence spending.

The paper says, despite the war in Ukraine, Sir Keir has yet to say when the military budget will reach 2.5% cent of the economic output, and the German government has approved an increase in defence spending amounting to just a fifth of what the country's defence minister said was necessary.

According to the i, the national security adviser, Sir Tim Barrow, has been told that he will not be Britain's next ambassador, external[5] to Washington, even though he was appointed in the final weeks of Rishi Sunak's administration.

The paper says the prime minister is now expected to make a political appointment to the job, and the frontrunners are the former Foreign Secretary, David Miliband, and the former Business Secretary, Lord Mandelson.

References

1. ^ Guardian says Sir Keir Starmer will urge other countries in the alliance, external (www.theguardian.com)
2. ^ According to the Times,, external (www.thetimes.com)
3. ^ Daily Telegraph says the review will consider an increase in the size of the armed forces., external (www.telegraph.co.uk)
4. ^ in an editorial, the Telegraph urges European Nato powers to start taking greater responsibility, external (www.telegraph.co.uk)
5. ^ According to the i, the national security adviser, Sir Tim Barrow, has been told that he will not be Britain's next ambassador, external (inews.co.uk)