UK politics: Burnham says budget will be ‘challenging’ and denies he is just ‘tax and spend socialist’ – as it happened
PM responds to criticism from former Bank of England chief economist Wes Streeting , the defence secretary, has posted this on social media ahead of Andy Burnham’s meeting with the Nato secretary general Mark Rutte later. Today I am reminded of the words of my Labour predecessor Denis Healey: “Once we cut defence expenditure to the extent where our security is imperilled, we have no houses, we have no hospitals, we have no schools. We have a heap of cinders.” [Britain] is leading, along with Nato allies, the push back against Russia’s dangerous and reckless campaign against us. Collectively we will continue to strengthen our ability to deter and defend all allies, against any threat. Nato will not be intimidated by Russia’s campaign of hostile actions. Russia wants to stop us helping Ukraine – but their actions will only lead us to do more for Ukraine. Russia’s actions are a sign of weakness, and a symptom of Putin’s failure in Ukraine. To stay transatlantic, Nato is becoming more European. A Nato with Europe, and Canada, spending more, producing more, and doing more for their security. This is the idea of Nato 3.0. Building for the future. A stronger Europe, in a stronger Nato. Continue reading...