UK Foreign aid cut to fund defence investment - £13billion increase in defence spending and more later

26th February 2025

The government will cut spending on development assistance from 0.5% to 0.3% in 2027 to fund the greater investment in defence.

Starmer says it will spend £13.4bn more on defence every year from 2027.

He adds that the UK also faces further threats such as cyber attacks, sabotage and assassinations.

Our intelligence services are becoming more and more important so we will recognise their service by spending 2.6% of our national income after 2027.

Starmer pledges to reach defence spending to 3% of GDP in the next parliament.