POLL OF THE DAY: Is the PM right not to raise defence spending to more than 2.5% of GDP? YOUR VERDICT

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer meets British soldiers at Salisbury Plain in Wiltshire
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer meets British soldiers at Salisbury Plain in Wiltshire
PA
George Bunn

By George Bunn


Published: 17/02/2025

- 05:01

Updated: 17/02/2025

- 17:37

GB News Members can have their say in the poll below

Sir Keir Starmer is set to resist rising pressure to increase defence spending beyond 2.5 per cent of GDP, despite calls from military chiefs for higher investment amid growing security concerns.

A source close to the Prime Minister told The Telegraph yesterday: "The policy we stood on at the election was 2.5 per cent defence spending. Our policy is still 2.5 per cent. We're not going to shift any further."


It comes despite pressure from President Donald Trump, who has called for Nato allies to reach five per cent of GDP in defence spending.

The debate over defence spending has exposed tensions within Labour's leadership, with reports earlier suggesting Sir Keir might overrule Chancellor Rachel Reeves to increase military spending.

Military chiefs have called for spending to reach 2.65 per cent of GDP, which would cost around £10billion. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk warned there was "no time to lose" and called for urgent European action.

Special Presidential Envoy to the White House Keith Kellogg confirmed at Munich that Europe would not have a final say in the conflict's resolution.

"To my European friends, I would say: get into the debate, not by complaining that you might, yes or no, be at the table, but by coming up with concrete proposals," Kellogg said.

GB News members can have their say in the poll above. We'll bring you the result later today.

This poll is now closed. See the full results below and continue to have your say in the comments.

In the exclusive poll for GB News membership readers, an overwhelming majority (91 per cent) of the 1,817voters thought the PM was wrong not to raise defence spending to more than 2.5 per cent of GDP, while just nine per cent thought he was right.