Kemi Badenoch has appointed herself “saviour of the western civilisation”, Sir Keir Starmer said, after the Conservative leader suggested she had advised him to increase defence spending. In a clash at PMQs,

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on Tuesday he would increase annual defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027 and target a 3% level last seen just after the Cold War, a signal to U.S. President Donald Trump that Britain can boost Europe's security.

The PM will head to Washington a day after announcing military budgets would rise to 2.5% of national income by 2027.