UK (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Keir Starmer’s decision to increase defence spending has given Labour a slight lead over Reform UK, a move welcomed by Washington but criticised within his party.
As reported by the Independent, Labour is now ahead of Reform UK after the prime minister’s military spending strategy gained public support.
What did the Techne survey reveal about Labour’s rise and Farage’s decline?
The Techne UK survey shows a slight shift, with Labour rising to 26%, leaving Nigel Farage’s party behind at 25%. The Conservative Party remains unchanged at 22%, a position where they have been for the previous month.
The new poll comes after Keir Starmer’s move to slash international aid from 0.5% to 0.3% of GDP, to raise defence spending to 2.5% of GDP.
The latest poll also showed a gain for the Liberal Democrats, rising by one point to 13%, while the Greens also gained one point, reaching 8%.
Labour is now tied with Reform among voters aged 45 to 55, although Reform’s support is stronger among older voters. Meanwhile, Labour dominates the under-45 demographic, with around one-third of the electorate.
What did Techne UK’s Michela Morizzo say about Labour’s rise?
Techne UK chief executive Michela Morizzo stated,
“Our regular Westminster tracker poll brings this week a small boost for the Labour government. With prime minister Keir Starmer in Washington DC for his first meeting with the new President Donald Trump, and in a week where unexpectedly the PM announced an increase in Government defence spending up to 2.5 per cent of national GDP, we see Labour’s national vote share climb one point and Nigel Farage’s Reform UK party perhaps surprisingly dropping a point.”
Did Keir Starmer’s defence spending decision gain him public support?
The decision to increase defense spending came just before Keir Starmer’s critical discussion with US President Donald Trump in the White House, following pressure from the US on European countries to enhance their military budgets.
Despite backlash from charities and prominent members of his party, who expressed disapproval over his reversal of Gordon Brown’s Labour policies from more than 15 years ago, Mr. Starmer’s move appears to have resulted in a small rise in public support.
How did Keir Starmer plan to raise the military spending budget?
Earlier this week, Labour leader revealed that Britain will boost defence spending by cutting its overseas aid budget, a move he insists is essential in the face of a “threatening new era.”
In a statement, he pointed out that the UK is entering a “period of profound change” amid global challenges, like the war in Ukraine.
Mr. Starmer promised to raise the military budget to 2.5% of GDP by 2027, up from the current 2.3%.
Keir Starmer stated,
“It is my first duty as prime minister to keep our country safe. In an ever more dangerous world, increasing the resilience of our country so we can protect the British people, resist future shocks and bolster British interests is vital.”
He added,
“By spending more on defence, we will deliver the stability that underpins economic growth and will unlock prosperity through new jobs, skills and opportunity across the country.”
How much increase does Trump want in UK military spending?
Insiders reveal that Washington has welcomed the announcement, though Donald Trump has been clear that he would prefer the UK to allocate 5% of GDP to defense, well above the 3% target proposed by Keir Starmer.
During Keir Starmer’s visit to the White House on Thursday, he managed to win Trump’s cooperation on several significant matters.
US president gave his backing to the controversial Chagos Islands agreement, which transfers control over the territory to Mauritius. He also appeared more inclined to support a security guarantee for Ukraine. Mr. Trump reaffirmed his plan to impose trade tariffs on the EU but not on the UK.
Why Keir Starmer is facing backlash for cutting foreign aid?
Labour’s leader has been facing criticism from within the party and other political parties for reducing overseas aid in a bid to increase the military budget.
Labour MP Diane Abbott has criticized her party’s approach, arguing that a defense spending increase driven by slashing Britain’s international aid budget highlights the Labour government’s “completely wrong priorities.”
In removing foreign aid from the debate, Keir Starmer has undercut the political ground for Nigel Farage’s Reform and the Tories, who had relied on this issue to distinguish themselves from Labour.