Starmer says UK moving to 'war-fighting readiness'

Sir Keir Starmer has announced that the UK will be moved towards “war-fighting readiness”, as he warned the world is facing the greatest instability it has for years, The Independent reported.

The prime minister outlined new defence measures to put Britain on war footing, after the government’s long-awaited strategic defence review concluded that the nation should be ready for war in Europe or the Atlantic.

Speaking in Glasgow, Sir Keir said: “When we are being directly threatened by states with advanced military forces, the most effective way to deter them is to be ready, and frankly, to show them that we’re ready to deliver peace through strength.”

He has pledged to build up to 12 new attack submarines and invest £15 billion in the nation’s warhead programme.

However, the PM has stopped short of making a firm commitment to raise defence spending to 3 per cent of GDP - sparking criticism from opponents.

He said he had “set the ambition” to hit the target in the next parliament, but that it was “subject to economic and fiscal conditions”.