Rob Watson

It will certainly make some difference, Oliver, but I mean clearly ever since the end of the Cold War, at the end of the 1980s, the UK has been spending less and less and its armed forces getting more and more hollowed out. So will it make a difference? Yes. Will it transform them? That's unlikely.

It will certainly make some difference, Oliver, but I mean clearly ever since the end of the Cold War, at the end of the 1980s, the UK has been spending less and less and its armed forces getting more and more hollowed out. So will it make a difference? Yes. Will it transform them? That's unlikely.

Again, that will be profoundly regretted by the British government, but also those on the receiving end. And as Sakhir Starmer made clear, it's just not something...

Again, that will be profoundly regretted by the British government, but also those on the receiving end. And as Sakhir Starmer made clear, it's just not something...

In an ideal world that Britain would do, but given that it doesn't want to increase taxes, given that economic growth here is utterly sclerotic, and because of pressure on other spending areas, he sort of takes the view that he didn't have much choice.

In an ideal world that Britain would do, but given that it doesn't want to increase taxes, given that economic growth here is utterly sclerotic, and because of pressure on other spending areas, he sort of takes the view that he didn't have much choice.

It will, and I don't think it's any great secret, Oliver, is it, that there is timing involved. in all of this. I mean, this is a big statement from Keir Starmer and I think it has a couple of purposes. The first is, before he gets to the White House to say to Donald Trump, hey, look, we are serious, we get that you want the Europeans to spend more on defence.

It will, and I don't think it's any great secret, Oliver, is it, that there is timing involved. in all of this. I mean, this is a big statement from Keir Starmer and I think it has a couple of purposes. The first is, before he gets to the White House to say to Donald Trump, hey, look, we are serious, we get that you want the Europeans to spend more on defence.

I think the second element is that it was interesting that he's clearly not looking for a row with Donald Trump, despite all the provocations, all the divisions over Ukraine. Some of the truly sort of shocking statements as Western Europe would see it over Ukraine and Putin Keir Starmer nimmt die Meinung, dass die Beziehung mit den USA wichtig ist. Das ist der zweite Teil.

I think the second element is that it was interesting that he's clearly not looking for a row with Donald Trump, despite all the provocations, all the divisions over Ukraine. Some of the truly sort of shocking statements as Western Europe would see it over Ukraine and Putin Keir Starmer nimmt die Meinung, dass die Beziehung mit den USA wichtig ist. Das ist der zweite Teil.

Aber der dritte Teil ist, dass er seinen Betten hängt und sagt, ja, wir wollen nicht zwischen den USA und Europa wählen, aber wir werden mehr auf die Verteidigung investieren. Wir werden unsere Sicherheitsbeziehungen mit Europa stärken. Das ist ein großer Moment. Das ist die UK, die irgendwie hofft, dass das Post-1945-Order,

Aber der dritte Teil ist, dass er seinen Betten hängt und sagt, ja, wir wollen nicht zwischen den USA und Europa wählen, aber wir werden mehr auf die Verteidigung investieren. Wir werden unsere Sicherheitsbeziehungen mit Europa stärken. Das ist ein großer Moment. Das ist die UK, die irgendwie hofft, dass das Post-1945-Order,

with the US-UK relationship and NATO at the heart of it, can somehow still be salvaged.

with the US-UK relationship and NATO at the heart of it, can somehow still be salvaged.

British voters seem relatively on side. I mean, it's helped by the fact that there are no great political divisions in the UK over defence spending and over support for Ukraine. Will British voters like the idea of more spending on defence and maybe squeezes on budgets For domestic spending, no doubt that will be difficult.

British voters seem relatively on side. I mean, it's helped by the fact that there are no great political divisions in the UK over defence spending and over support for Ukraine. Will British voters like the idea of more spending on defence and maybe squeezes on budgets For domestic spending, no doubt that will be difficult.

But the case that Sir Keir Starmer is sort of beginning to make is to say to the British people, hey, look, you know, we thought when the Berlin Wall came down, we were going to be living in different times. I thought that, he said, as a young man, the shackles of history coming off. But look, Russian tanks rolled into Ukraine. We are not living in those times. We need to act differently.

But the case that Sir Keir Starmer is sort of beginning to make is to say to the British people, hey, look, you know, we thought when the Berlin Wall came down, we were going to be living in different times. I thought that, he said, as a young man, the shackles of history coming off. But look, Russian tanks rolled into Ukraine. We are not living in those times. We need to act differently.

It is a big change, Jackie, but in a funny sort of way, it represents a toughening after a softening on the previous government. Let me explain.

It is a big change, Jackie, but in a funny sort of way, it represents a toughening after a softening on the previous government. Let me explain.