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Donald Trump is demanding that European allies spend more on defence, and the prime minister is nodding along.
At a summit in Paris, Sir Keir Starmer will urge his counterparts to take the new president seriously and to make concrete spending commitments before the NATO summit in June.
Starmer is taking a leading role at the summit, but some might (rightfully) point out that Britain has itself dithered when it comes to parting with actual cash.
Labour has already pledged to increase defence spending from 2.3% to 2.5% of GDP but, as of yet, there is no date for when the target will be met – unsurprisingly the Treasury wants to push it back as far as possible.
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The challenge is clear: An increase in defence spending means sacrifices will have to be made elsewhere, and promises might have to be broken.
Ministers must weigh geopolitical and diplomatic risks against their domestic agenda.
This government has promised to adequately fund public services, but it is also committed to keeping a lid on borrowing, imposing a fiscal rule that requires tax receipts to cover day-to-day spending.
It is managing for now. Business taxes have been hiked up to support public services – at a considerable political cost to the chancellor.
Little room for manoeuvre
However, she will need to find even more money if she wants to avoid real-term cuts to courts, prisons and local authorities after this year.
Rachel Reeves has promised she won’t go after businesses again, but the government has also promised that it won’t raise VAT, income tax or national…
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