Latest news with #KierStarmer
Observer
an hour ago
- Business
- Observer
Businesses welcomed the UK-EU Brexit ‘reset'
Prime Minister Kier Starmer will be pleased about his catch in international diplomacy: a trade deal with the European Union, which the government hopes will boost the chances of achieving higher growth. In an agreement that hands EU boats continued rights in British seas until 2038, slashing red tape on food checks and increasing cooperation on defence and migration, businesses are getting a sense of whether this deal may be sweet – or sound all too fishy. For the opposition political parties, the Conservatives and Reform Party, the Prime Minister has utterly betrayed Britain's fishing industry. The right to control Britain's waters was a clear prize of Brexit. Yet, under this deal, British fishermen will never know what it means to manage the fisheries of an independent country. EU excess has been extended and the economic future of Britain's coastal communities has once again been sacrificed, the opposition say. Furthermore, the UK has a once-in-a-generation opportunity to sweep away the EU- originated rules that suppress innovation, productivity and growth. Yet, this deal binds Britain back into precisely those constraints on agriculture, preventing the regulatory freedom that would allow Britain to thrive as an agile, competitive economy. However, Business groups and their members have welcomed the deal, but professor Stephen Miller, director at the National Institute of Economic Social Research, said that, economically the cuts in red tape secured were not likely to put much additional cash in people's pockets. Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer shakes hands with European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen at the European Commission headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, in this file photo. — Reuters 'This agreement is unlikely to 'shift the dial' in the sense that the gains are small relative to the single market or customs union,' he said. While the gains may be 'small', and despite agreements on areas such as a youth mobility scheme or defence lacking detail, industry groups are largely upbeat about the opportunities presented by EU and UK officials. The chief executive of Britain's biggest business lobby, the Confederation of British Industry, suggested the new deal was a 'leap forward' amid difficult times. 'The bleak global trading environment – from escalating geopolitical tensions to sluggish growth – has underscored the importance of deepening ties with trusted, like-minded partners,' Rain Newton-Smith said. This sentiment has been repeated by leading executives at the British Retail Consortium (BRC) and the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) where leaders have said agreements will keep costs down and enrich British companies looking to import cheaper produce or export goods to European markets. BRC chief executive Helen Dickenson said the removal of veterinary checks on food would help secure supply chains and support UK competitiveness while FSB policy chair Tina McKenzie suggested that 'bottleneck at the border' could be cleared as a result of fewer checks being made. Managing director of M&S Food, Alex Freudmann also said 'pointless' bureaucracy in trade within the UK – between Great Britain and Northern Ireland – would be removed. But some elements of the trade deal were conspicuously absent. As well as the absence of progress of youth mobility, demands made by the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) over the recognition of British qualifications, which are supported by other leading business groups, fell on deaf years. 'With elements not yet set in stone, there will be further effort required to ensure that what has been promised is delivered for the benefit of the UK economy, the business environment and wider business society,' said Emma Rowland, trade policy advisor at Institute of Directors (IoD). ING's James Smith suggested more negotiations on goods trade would have to be done for the OBR to raise its growth forecasts for the UK thereby easing concerns about extra tax hikes coming. 'Generally, we doubt this deal on its own will convince the OBR to change its outlook in any meaningful way,' he said.
Scottish Sun
a day ago
- Business
- Scottish Sun
First non-pilot to lead RAF is picked to command all three armed forces
The married dad-of-two was picked by Sir Kier Starmer over Army Chief General Sir Roly Walker TOP APPOINTMENT First non-pilot to lead RAF is picked to command all three armed forces THE first non-pilot to lead the RAF has been picked to command all three armed forces. Air Chief Marshal Sir Rich Knighton – a career engineer and 'defence bureaucrat' – will take over as Chief of the Defence Staff this autumn. 3 The married dad-of-two was picked by Sir Kier Starmer over Army Chief General Sir Roly Walker, a former SAS commander Credit: AFP 3 Air Chief Marshal Sir Rich Knighton will take over as Chief of the Defence Staff this autumn Credit: @UK MoD Crown Copright 2024 3 The career engineer and 'defence bureaucrat' with Captain Paddy Hemingway.103, at Casement Air base Baldonnel near Dublin Credit: Arthur Edwards / The Sun The married dad-of-two was picked by Sir Kier Starmer over Army Chief General Sir Roly Walker, a former SAS commander. Knighton's only combat tour, according to his official bio, was 'a short stint as Senior Engineer Officer in Italy during the Kosovo campaign'. But he launched the RAF's Tempest plan to get a sixth generation fighter jet which is the government's flagship defence project. Pals insisted Knighton – who earned a 1st Class engineering degree from Cambridge University – was the perfect candidate for implementing Labour's defence reforms. They said: 'Rich is smart, popular and really good at getting sh*t done and he has bucket loads of integrity.' They added: 'For the hard yards of implementing a defence review, there's no one better to role up his sleeves hand get on with it. 'Naysayers would say his background is as engineer, he is a proper defence bureaucrat. 'There is no doubt Roly had a more operational experience but Rich will have plenty of people around him who can advise on that.' They were both on long list of four which included the first ever woman, General Dame Sharon Nesmith, and spychief General Jim Hockenhull. ACM Knighton, 56, will replace Admiral Sir Tony Radakin as the professional head of the forces and the PM's top military advisor. He will also take direct command of the Army, Navy and Air Force under a newly formed Military Strategic Headquarters. He joined the RAF as university cadet in 1988 and describes himself as 'a keen skier and a below-average sportsman who would like to do more sailing'. He maintains a 'private pilots license' and is president of the RAF Powerlifting, Winter Sports and Hockey clubs. Originally from Derbyshire, he lives with his lawyer wife Caitlin in Cambridge. Speaking before the appointment Knighton said engineering had shaped his style of leadership. His told a local newspaper: 'As an engineer in the air force, you are never, at any point, the leading expert in a thing. You rely on the advice of your technicians and your experts, and then you pull together that information, and you make a decision.' He described himelf as an optimist ands said: 'Nobody wants to work for a miserable bastard.' He added: "I'm very much a glass-half-full kind of character. I get a great deal of energy from working with other people. I've learned in my career that optimism and energy are infectious.' An MoD spokesperson said: 'This is speculation. The appointment process is ongoing and any announcement will be made in the usual way.' This comes as the UK will be forced to ramp up defence spending after Keir refused to commit to funding despite his "battle ready" promise. Labour's pledge to 'lead in Nato' would be blown to smithereens if Britain is left behind, a top defence insider said. Top Brass have been baffled by Kier Starmer's refusal to say when he will hit Labour's target of spending 3 per cent. The PM vowed to get Britain "battle ready" yesterday with new doomsday nukes and robotic fighter jets – but refused to say how he will fund it. Donald Trump has demanded allies spend 5 per cent of GDP on defence – and he has threatened to abandon nations that fail to pay their way. Nato's chief Mark Rutte has successfully lobbied allies to try and hit Trump's target by spending 3.5 per cent on core defence – including troops, tanks and ships – and 1.5 per cent on security and infrastructure, including spy agencies. France's President Macron has backed Rutte's demands. And Germany is already on course to hit the target within the next few years. A defence source said Britain's ministers have 'been in denial' about the looming Nato summit and pledges key allies will make. Starmer is expected to discuss the Nato target in a crunch meeting this week. A defence source said: 'Do we want to be lumped with Spain as the only allies that are complaining?' At the launch a landmark Strategic Defence Review Defence Secretary John Healey said: 'Our defence policy is Nato First." 'We will end the hollowing out of our Armed Forces and lead in a stronger, more lethal Nato.' Labour has pledged to increase defence spending from 2.3 per cent of GDP to 2.5 per cent by 2027. Starmer said: 'We have set the ambition to reach 3 per cent in the next Parliament, subject to economic and fiscal conditions.' But pressed on what that meant, he said: 'I'm not going to indulge in the fantasy politics of simply plucking dates from the air.' Defence Secretary Healey said the 3 per cent target was a "certainty". But he backtracked 24-hours later, insisting it was merely an "ambition". Britain's three biggest weapons programmes – including the Trident 2 nuclear deterrent, the new sixth generation fighter jets and new hunter killer submarines – will cost at least 3 per cent of GDP, a former defence minister told The Sun. More to follow... For the latest news on this story keep checking back at The Sun Online is your go-to destination for the best celebrity news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see video. Like us on Facebook at and follow us from our main Twitter account at @TheSun.
The Sun
a day ago
- Business
- The Sun
First non-pilot to lead RAF is picked to command all three armed forces
THE first non-pilot to lead the RAF has been picked to command all three armed forces. Air Chief Marshal Sir Rich Knighton – a career engineer and 'defence bureaucrat' – will take over as Chief of the Defence Staff this autumn. The married dad-of-two was picked by Sir Kier Starmer over Army Chief General Sir Roly Walker, a former SAS commander. Knighton's only combat tour, according to his official bio, was 'a short stint as Senior Engineer Officer in Italy during the Kosovo campaign'. But he launched the RAF's Tempest plan to get a sixth generation fighter jet which is the government's flagship defence project. Pals insisted Knighton – who earned a 1st Class engineering degree from Cambridge University – was the perfect candidate for implementing Labour's defence reforms. They said: 'Rich is smart, popular and really good at getting sh*t done and he has bucket loads of integrity.' They added: 'For the hard yards of implementing a defence review, there's no one better to role up his sleeves hand get on with it. 'Naysayers would say his background is as engineer, he is a proper defence bureaucrat. 'There is no doubt Roly had a more operational experience but Rich will have plenty of people around him who can advise on that.' They were both on long list of four which included the first ever woman, General Dame Sharon Nesmith, and spychief General Jim Hockenhull. ACM Knighton, 56, will replace Admiral Sir Tony Radakin as the professional head of the forces and the PM's top military advisor. He will also take direct command of the Army, Navy and Air Force under a newly formed Military Strategic Headquarters. He joined the RAF as university cadet in 1988 and describes himself as 'a keen skier and a below-average sportsman who would like to do more sailing'. He maintains a 'private pilots license' and is president of the RAF Powerlifting, Winter Sports and Hockey clubs. Originally from Derbyshire, he lives with his lawyer wife Caitlin in Cambridge. Speaking before the appointment Knighton said engineering had shaped his style of leadership. His told a local newspaper: 'As an engineer in the air force, you are never, at any point, the leading expert in a thing. You rely on the advice of your technicians and your experts, and then you pull together that information, and you make a decision.' He described himelf as an optimist ands said: 'Nobody wants to work for a miserable bastard.' He added: "I'm very much a glass-half-full kind of character. I get a great deal of energy from working with other people. I've learned in my career that optimism and energy are infectious.' An MoD spokesperson said: 'This is speculation. The appointment process is ongoing and any announcement will be made in the usual way.' This comes as the UK will be forced to ramp up defence spending after Keir refused to commit to funding despite his "battle ready" promise. Labour's pledge to 'lead in Nato' would be blown to smithereens if Britain is left behind, a top defence insider said. Top Brass have been baffled by Kier Starmer's refusal to say when he will hit Labour's target of spending 3 per cent. The PM vowed to get Britain " battle ready" yesterday with new doomsday nukes and robotic fighter jets – but refused to say how he will fund it. Donald Trump has demanded allies spend 5 per cent of GDP on defence – and he has threatened to abandon nations that fail to pay their way. Nato's chief Mark Rutte has successfully lobbied allies to try and hit Trump's target by spending 3.5 per cent on core defence – including troops, tanks and ships – and 1.5 per cent on security and infrastructure, including spy agencies. France 's President Macron has backed Rutte's demands. And Germany is already on course to hit the target within the next few years. A defence source said Britain's ministers have 'been in denial' about the looming Nato summit and pledges key allies will make. Starmer is expected to discuss the Nato target in a crunch meeting this week. 1 is your go-to destination for the best celebrity news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see video. Like us on Facebook at and follow us from our main Twitter account at @TheSun.
The Sun
a day ago
- Business
- The Sun
UK will be FORCED to ramp up defence spending after Keir refused to commit to funding despite ‘battle ready' promise
BRITAIN will be steamrollered into ramping up defence spending when Nato allies agree to a target of 3.5 per cent of GDP at a summit later this month. Labour's pledge to 'lead in Nato' would be blown to smithereens if Britain is left behind, a top defence insider said. 3 3 3 Top Brass have been baffled by Kier Starmer's refusal to say when he will hit Labour's target of spending 3 per cent. The PM vowed to get Britain " battle ready" yesterday with new doomsday nukes and robotic fighter jets – but refused to say how he will fund it. Donald Trump has demanded allies spend 5 per cent of GDP on defence – and he has threatened to abandon nations that fail to pay their way. Nato's chief Mark Rutte has successfully lobbied allies to try and hit Trump's target by spending 3.5 per cent on core defence – including troops, tanks and ships – and 1.5 per cent on security and infrastructure, including spy agencies. France 's President Macron has backed Rutte's demands. And Germany is already on course to hit the target within the next few years. A defence source said Britain's ministers have 'been in denial' about the looming Nato summit and pledges key allies will make. Starmer is expected to discuss the Nato target in a crunch meeting this week. A defence source said: 'Do we want to be lumped with Spain as the only allies that are complaining?' At the launch a landmark Strategic Defence Review Defence Secretary John Healey said: 'Our defence policy is Nato First. China & Russia will use drones 'the size of insects' to spy on UK & commit untraceable murders, ex-Google futurist warns 'We will end the hollowing out of our Armed Forces and lead in a stronger, more lethal Nato.' Labour has pledged to increase defence spending from 2.3 per cent of GDP to 2.5 per cent by 2027. Starmer said: 'We have set the ambition to reach 3 per cent in the next Parliament, subject to economic and fiscal conditions.' But pressed on what that meant, he said: 'I'm not going to indulge in the fantasy politics of simply plucking dates from the air.' Strategic error ON the face of it, there is good news in Labour's Strategic Defence Review. Up to 12 submarines to head off threats from Russia at sea. New weapons and munitions factories to replace those stocks depleted by donations to Ukraine. But will the billions needed to pay for all these new fighter jets, drones and hi-tech weaponry actually be found? Defence chiefs say it will take investment of three per cent of GDP. Yet Keir Starmer yesterday refused to put a timeline on achieving that. By 2027 it will still be only 2.5 per cent — when experts say we need five per cent to re-arm properly. If the Prime Minister has doubts about where to find the cash, he could try diverting money from less pressing areas — like binning Net Zero and free hotels for migrants. A pity, too, that his Government is handing Mauritius £30billion on top of surrendering the Chagos Islands. At the very least, the PM's uncertainty also throws the delivery time of new projects into doubt. New subs, for example, already won't be serviceable until the late 2030s. Sir Keir says the nation is on a war footing as of now. But it cannot take decades before we are ready to actually fight one. Defence Secretary Healey said the 3 per cent target was a "certainty But he backtracked 24-hours later, insisting it was merely an "ambition". Britain's three biggest weapons programmes – including the Trident 2 nuclear deterrent, the new sixth generation fighter jets and new hunter killer submarines – will cost at least 3 per cent of GDP, a former defence minister told The Sun.
ABC News
2 days ago
- General
- ABC News
Britain to boost submarine fleet to counter Russia
A second-round of direct peace talks between Russia and Ukraine has ended without a major breakthrough as other nations say they must be prepared for war with Moscow. Britain's Prime Minister Sir Kier Starmer says the threat of Russia can't be ignored and he's announced the UK will expand its nuclear-powered attack submarine fleet.
