Latest news with #VEDay
The National
4 hours ago
- Business
- The National
SNP criticise Labour's plans to increase UK's defence spending
Prime Minister Keir Starmer had previously outlined that a 3% spend on defence by 2034 is an 'ambitious' target, a view reportedly still held by some senior Whitehall officials. However, John Healey has said it is now a certainty. The Defence Secretary's comments mean the Labour Government would be committed to spending more than £10 billion extra on defence every year, despite criticism over proposed cuts to public services. In February, Starmer announced that the UK would increase spending on defence up to 2.5% of GDP by April 2027, raiding the international development budget, in a move which was branded by the Scottish Government as 'deeply disappointing'. READ MORE: Scottish minister hits back at Defence Secretary 'student union politics' jibe The SNP MP Dave Doogan said Labour are 'unable to read the room' following Healey's comments that the UK Government will spend 3% of GDP on defence by the next parliament. Doogan (below), the SNP's defence spokesperson at Westminster, said: '3% by 2034 shows how broke the UK is - this is a decade after Labour have taken power. (Image: House of Commons) 'Lead times for new equipment and systems will add further delay to Labour's tardy defence timescales. 'This 'jam tomorrow' defence posture won't fix crumbling defence housing or the lamentable recruitment and retention crisis." He added: 'Ballooning nuclear enterprise costs, so high now the government has delayed issuing the new rolling ten year cost of Trident, will consume much of any new defence cash. 'We are firmly in an era of increasingly contested global ambition and global instability where some traditional allies seem increasingly at odds with European values and ambitions and Labour are unwilling or unable to read the room.' The UK Government's 10-year defence plan on Britain's defence spending, which is due to be announced on Monday, was reportedly due to be published during VE Day week earlier this month but had been delayed because of rows with the Treasury. One source told The Times there had been 'discontent that the Ministry of Defence is using it to push for more defence spending'. The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) has estimated that reaching 3% of GDP by the next parliament would cost the UK an additional £17.3bn in 2029-30. Doogan's comments come after Healey (below) said Labour's plans to increase military spending are sending a 'message to Moscow'. The UK Government pledged £1.5bn to set up at least six factories and said it would support the procurement of up to 7000 UK-built long-range weapons in response to the strategic defence review (SDR), which is to be published on Monday. The new funding will see UK munitions spending hit £6bn during this parliament, with Starmer calling the review a 'radical blueprint'. The Prime Minister also pledged a 'wave of investments' in shipbuilding, drone technology and cyber defences. Healey said the £6bn of investment would 'equip our forces for the future' and 'create jobs in every part of the UK'. 'This is a message to Moscow as well," he told the BBC's Sunday Morning With Laura Kuenssberg programme. "This is Britain standing behind, making our armed forces stronger but making our industrial base stronger, and this is part of our readiness to fight, if required. Healey added that Russia is 'attacking the UK daily' as part of some 90,000 cyber attacks from state-linked sources that were directed at the UK's defence over the last two years.
North Wales Live
a day ago
- General
- North Wales Live
Thousands join celebrations to mark Bangor's 1,500th anniversary
Bangor city centre was a sea of flags and cheers as thousands of residents and visitors lined the streets to witness a grand military parade. It was a highlight of the city's 1,500th anniversary celebrations. The event gathered service personnel, veterans, cadets, and community groups, showcasing a vibrant display of civic pride and heritage. Led proudly by Shenkin IV, the iconic goat mascot of the 1st Battalion, The Royal Welsh, the parade showcased an impressive array of regimental units. Guest of honour was Betty Roberts, aged 101, who played a vital role in the RAF communications in WWII. Others in Thursday's parade included troops from The Royal Welsh, the Welsh Guards, RAF Valley, and 106 Squadron medical reservists. They were joined by the renowned British Army Band from Catterick, who gave a rousing performance as the parade marched through the streets of Bangor. Veterans and more than 100 cadets, some travelling from as far as Birkenhead and South Shropshire, participated in the impressive procession, demonstrating the broad support for the city's historic milestone. Dr Martin Hanks, Bangor City Director, expressed his gratitude to the community: 'We were thrilled to see such an incredible turnout for the military parade. It was a powerful reminder of Bangor's enduring spirit and the pride we all share in our city's remarkable history. "Thank you to everyone who came out to support this event. This is just one of many events planned throughout 2025 to mark our 1,500th anniversary. "We encourage everyone to join us in the coming months as we continue to celebrate Bangor's rich heritage and vibrant community.' The parade is part of a year-long programme of events organised by Bangor City Council in collaboration with local organisations, schools, and community groups. Betty Roberts, who celebrated her 101st birthday this month, represents a living link to the city's wartime past. Enlisting in the Women's Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF) in 1943, Betty served as a teleprinter operator at RAF Blackbrook during the Second World War, where she played a vital role in the RAF's communications network. After the war, she married High-Speed Telegraphist Joe Roberts and settled in Bangor, where she has remained a cherished member of the community ever since. Betty recently reflected on VE Day and her wartime service, saying: 'I never imagined the messages I typed would have such importance. We were just doing our duty.' Her quiet bravery and long-standing ties to Bangor made her the perfect guest of honour. * Other events to mark Bangor's 1,500th anniversary this year will include the Bangor Summer Festival, History Festival, artistic performances, and a spectacular firework display, all designed to honour the city's past, present and future.
Yahoo
a day ago
- General
- Yahoo
Historic ship visit 'a poignant reminder'
The visit of a historic Norwegian cargo ship to the River Tyne has a special significance for one local man. The S/S Hestmanden, which served as a convoy vessel during World War Two, will be berthed in Newcastle until Thursday as part of a UK tour marking the 80th anniversary of VE Day. For Chris Flanighan, its arrival is a poignant reminder of his grandfather, Karluf Thorsen, who fled Nazi-occupied Norway and served throughout the war in the merchant navy. He said: "This ship symbolises the life he lived, and the risks he took". Built in 1911, S/S Hestmanden played a vital role in transporting medicine, food, fuel, ammunition, and weapons during the war. It also formed part of a covert flotilla of fishing boats used to smuggle soldiers, agents and freedom fighters between Norway and Shetland, and on return trips helped to evacuate refugees and Allied soldiers. Now a national treasure in Norway, it serves as a floating war sailors' museum, preserving the legacy of those who kept the supply lines open. Mr Flanighan, from Wallsend, North Tyneside, has spent years uncovering the legacy of his grandfather. "He left Norway around the age of 17 or 18 and didn't return home until he was 22," he said. "Germany had occupied Norway, and he was part of the convoys supplying the Allied effort from Britain. "This ship symbolises the life he lived, and the risks he took". In a tribute to his grandfather's legacy, Mr Flanighan has been invited to join the Maritime Volunteer Service on one of their vessels as part of a ceremonial escort up the river. "When I heard the ship was coming to Newcastle - the last stop on her UK tour - I was over the moon," he said. "It's not just a ship visit. For me and my family, it's like she's coming home." During the visit, people have a chance to go on board the floating museum until Wednesday and explore its interactive exhibitions. There will also be events including a wreath-laying ceremony at Norwegian war graves in Jesmond. Capt Stephen C. Healy of Trinity House, Newcastle, said: "This historic visit reaffirms the deep maritime bonds between Norway and the north-east of England. "It is a tremendous privilege to help honour the legacy of the war sailors." Follow BBC Newcastle on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram. How the 'Shetland Bus' helped Norway resist Nazi Germany Maritime Volunteer Service
Leader Live
a day ago
- General
- Leader Live
Second World War bomber returns home for 80th anniversary
The Avro Lancaster performed flypasts over Broughton, North Wales, alongside Supermarine Spitfire and Hawker Hurricane fighters before landing at the Airbus wing building factory on Friday evening. The aircraft was built in May 1945 during the Broughton site's early years as a shadow factory for manufacturing bombers. The Lancaster PA474, which is owned and operated by the RAF's Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, was the star of the recent VE Day celebrations, leading the ceremonial flypast over London. The Officer Commanding the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, Squadron Leader Mark Sugden, said: 'Our flying season so far this year has been memorable with the VE Day celebrations, but this is one of the highlights of the year in a visit that takes our incredible aircraft back to her birthplace.'
The National
a day ago
- Business
- The National
Labour say Britain will spend £10 billion extra on defence
The UK Government's 10-year defence plan, which is due to be announced on Monday, is said to be 'unaffordable' without the increased spending, The Times has reported. Prime Minister Keir Starmer had previously outlined the 3% target by 2034 as an 'ambition', but Healey has now said it is a certainty. Healey's comments mean the Labour Government would be committed to spending more than £10 billion extra on defence every year despite criticism over proposed cuts to public services. READ MORE: Labour has 'given up' on by-election amid SNP-Reform contest, says John Swinney In February, Starmer announced that the UK would spend 2.5% of GDP on defence by April 2027, raiding the international development budget, which was a decision branded by the Scottish Government as 'deeply disappointing'. At the same time, Starmer also outlined an 'ambition' to reach 3% by 2034, a target which was reportedly described by government sources as still an 'ambition' this week. However, Healey (below) told The Times on Saturday: 'In the next parliament, this country will spend 3 per cent of our GDP on defence.' When pressed whether this was a firm commitment, he said he had 'no doubt' Britain would be spending 3% 'in the next parliament'. He said there was a 'certain decade of rising defence spending', adding: 'It allows us to plan for the long term. It allows us to deal with the pressures.' It is unclear whether Healey's comments were an attempt to pressure the Treasury into approving the spending or if it was a commitment that has been agreed across Whitehall. It was also reported that the review, which was due to be published during VE Day week this month, into Britain's defence spending had been delayed because of rows with the Treasury. One source told The Times there had been 'discontent that the Ministry of Defence is using it to push for more defence spending'. The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) has estimated that reaching 3% of GDP by the next parliament would cost the UK an additional £17.3bn in 2029-30. The 130-page review reportedly will warn of the 'immediate and pressing' danger posed by Russia and will also describe Iran and North Korea as 'regional disruptors'. The review comes as other government departments are still negotiating how much they will have to spend over the next three years. A Ministry of Defence spokesperson said: 'This government has announced the largest sustained increase to defence spending since the end of the Cold War — 2.5 per cent by 2027 and 3 per cent in the next parliament when fiscal and economic conditions allow, including an extra £5 billion this financial year. 'The review will rightly set the vision for how that uplift will be spent, including new capabilities to put us at the leading edge of innovation in Nato, investment in our people and making defence an engine for growth across the UK — making Britain more secure at home and strong abroad.' NATO member states are expected to agree to a defence spending target during a summit in June with the target reportedly possibly being as high as 3.5% of GDP.
