UK's Starmer Reached a Deal to Reset Relations With the EU
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer sealed a deal with European Union leaders that lays the ground for closer collaboration with the bloc, seeing the removal of the vast majority of border checks on food and agricultural goods. They also pledged to discuss British access to Europe's €150 billion ($169 billion) defense fund.
The UK negotiators agreed to extend fishing rights, a politically risky move for the ruling Labour party, which faces an electoral threat from Nigel Farage's Reform UK. Fishing is a totemic issue in the UK despite making up just 0.04% of GDP, and the deal appears to have reignited tensions last seen during Brexit talks.
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Associated Press
12 minutes ago
- Associated Press
Britain is getting a defense boost aimed at sending a message to Moscow, and to Trump
LONDON (AP) — The United Kingdom will build new nuclear-powered attack submarines and create an army ready to fight a war in Europe as part of a boost to military spending designed to send a message to Moscow — and Washington. Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Britain 'cannot ignore the threat that Russia poses' as he pledged to undertake the most sweeping changes to Britain's defenses since the end of the Cold War more than three decades ago. 'We have to recognize the world has changed,' Starmer told the BBC. 'With greater instability than there has been for many, many years, and greater threats.' What's happening on Monday? The government is to respond to a strategic defense review commissioned by Starmer and led by George Robertson, a former U.K. defense secretary and NATO secretary general. It's the first such review since 2021, and lands in a world transformed by Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, and by the re-election of President Donald Trump last year. The government says it will accept all 62 recommendations made in the review, aiming to help the U.K. confront growing threats on land, air sea and in cyberspace. Defense Secretary John Healey said the changes would send 'a message to Moscow, and transform the country's military following decades of retrenchment, though he said he does not expect the number of soldiers — currently at a historic low — to rise until the early 2030s. Healey said plans for defense spending to hit 2.5% of national income by 2027 a year are 'on track' and that there's 'no doubt' it will hit 3% before 2034. Starmer said the 3% goal is an 'ambition,' rather than a firm promise, and it's unclear where the cash-strapped Treasury will find the money. The government has already, contentiously, cut international aid spending to reach the 2.5% target. Starmer said he wouldn't make a firm pledge until he knew 'precisely where the money is coming from.' Deterring Russia Even 3% falls short of what some leaders in NATO think is needed to deter Russia from future attacks on its neighbors. NATO chief Mark Rutte says leaders of the 32 member countries will debate a commitment to spend at least 3.5% of GDP on defense when they meet in the Netherlads this month. Monday's announcements include building 'up to 12' nuclear-powered, conventionally armed submarines under the AUKUS partnership with Australia and the United States. The government also says it will invest 15 billion in Britain's nuclear arsenal, which consists of missiles carried on a handful of submarines. Details of those plans are likely to be scarce. The government will also increase conventional Britain's weapons stockpiles with up to 7,000 U.K.-built long-range weapons. Starmer said rearming would create a 'defense dividend' of well-paid jobs — a contrast to the post-Cold War 'peace dividend' that saw Western nations channel money away from defense into other areas. Like other NATO members, the U.K. has been reassessing its defense spending since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Healey said Russia is 'attacking the U.K. daily,' with 90,000 cyberattacks from state-linked sources directed at the U.K.'s defense over the last two years. A cyber command to counter such threats is expected to be set up as part of the review. 'This is a message to Moscow,' Healey told the BBC. Bolstering Europe's defenses It's also a message to Trump that Europe is heeding his demand for NATO members to spend more on their own defense. European countries, led by the U.K. and France, have scrambled to coordinate their defense posture as Trump transforms American foreign policy, seemingly sidelining Europe as he looks to end the war in Ukraine. Trump has long questioned the value of NATO and complained that the U.S. provides security to European countries that don't pull their weight. Robert Jenrick, justice spokesman for the main opposition Conservative Party, called on the government to be more ambitious and raise spending to 3% of national income by 2029. 'We think that 2034 is a long time to wait, given the gravity of the situation,' he told Sky News.
Yahoo
21 minutes ago
- Yahoo
John Swinney news, interviews and updates on the First Minister
John Swinney became Scotland's First Minister in May 2024. He replaced Humza Yousaf, who resigned after ending the Bute House Agreement with the Scottish Greens. Before this, Swinney had stepped down from his role in the Scottish Government following Nicola Sturgeon's resignation. He is the seventh person to hold the position. Read on for all the latest John Swinney news, interviews, and updates on the first minister. As reported by The Herald, here is a selection of the latest John Swinney news stories. Sarwar and Swinney accused of 'inaction on child poverty' Nigel Farage to campaign in Scotland in by-election visit Farage returns to Scotland for by-election campaign John Swinney expressed concerns about the potential societal impact of Reform UK. He told The Herald's Unspun Live podcast that he does not want to regret not doing enough during his time in office to counter their rise. He highlighted that Nigel Farage's party's campaign for the upcoming Holyrood election could "undermine... cohesion in our society." Swinney: 'Reform will have an undeniable presence - I want to stop that' John Swinney has served in both Westminster and Holyrood. The politician first stood as the MP for Tayside North from 1997 until 2001. (Image: PA) He was then elected as the MSP for North Tayside in 1999 and held both positions until stepping down from Westminster at the 2001 general election, where he was replaced by Pete Wishart. He has remained an MSP ever since. However, following boundary changes, he now represents Perthshire North. Before entering politics, Swinney was employed as a strategic planning principal with Scottish Amicable and was a business and economic development consultant for five years. He graduated from the University of Edinburgh with a degree in politics and first joined the SNP in 1979. John Swinney was elected as the First Minister of Scotland in May 2024 after Humza Yousaf resigned. Swinney, who had previously led the SNP from 2000 to 2004, was legally sworn in on May 8. Despite speculation after Yousaf's resignation, Kate Forbes (below) did not contest Swinney for the SNP leadership and now serves as the Deputy First Minister. Kate Forbes (Image: PA)Swinney made his statutory declarations and was granted his official title of First Minister and Keeper of the Scottish Seal. He described his induction as an "overwhelming moment" and an "extraordinary opportunity to change lives for the better". He told reporters after the ceremony: 'I look forward to dedicating my future to serving the people of Scotland." All pupils in Primary 1 to 5 in Scottish Government-funded schools or schools run by local councils receive free lunches during term-time. The SNP pledged to expand this to include free breakfast and lunch for Primary 6 and 7 pupils in their 2021 manifesto. However, last September, John Swinney confirmed that the government would not be continuing with this plan when he laid out his Programme for Government. Instead, the provision will only extend to Primary 6 and 7 pupils who qualify for the Scottish Child Payment. This decision, according to Swinney, was due to the need for the government to manage its spending. He attributed this financial restraint to "the austerity agenda" supported by Tory MSPs. He said this forced the Scottish Government to make cuts to its spending. John Swinney's extensive political career began in 2007 when he was tasked with the finance and sustainable growth brief. In November 2014, he was appointed as deputy first minister and Scotland's finance, constitution, and economy secretary. He served as education secretary from 2016 until 2021 before being named Scotland's secretary for Covid recovery from May 2021 until March 2023. He also served as acting finance secretary during Kate Forbes' maternity leave. After Nicola Sturgeon's resignation, Swinney decided to take a step back from his Scottish Government duties. However, following a year on the backbenches, he was once again re-elected as leader of the SNP and First Minister of Scotland. John Swinney was born in Edinburgh in 1964 and is 61 years old. He married BBC Scotland journalist Elizabeth Quigley in 2003. The couple have one child together, and Swinney is a father of three. Quigley, a well-known BBC Scotland reporter, was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2000. John Swinney with his wife Elizabeth Quigley and son Matthew (Image: Andrew Milligan/PA Wire)Speaking at the 2024 SNP conference, Swinney thanked his wife for the 'sacrifices' she has made to allow him to serve as First Minister. John Swinney has described himself as 'a man of deep Christian faith.' He said this to the BBC's Good Morning Scotland programme in 2023 after Kate Forbes, his Deputy First Minister, revealed she would have voted against gay marriage if she was an MSP at the time. Swinney told the broadcaster that he "profoundly disagreed" with Forbes despite his "deep religious faith".
Bloomberg
21 minutes ago
- Bloomberg
EU Poised to Curb China's Access to Medical Device Procurement
The European Union is set to curb Chinese medical device manufacturers' access to public procurement contracts in the bloc, according to a person familiar with the matter. EU countries are due to vote on the proposed measure as early as Monday, said the person, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss private deliberations.
