Keir Starmer 'considers watering down' defence spending increase ahead of crunch Nato summit

Sir Keir Starmer is said to be considering watering down his pledge to increase defence spending ahead of a crunch Nato summit next month.

Several Whitehall sources have indicated the 10-year defence investment plan (DIP) could be prepared as soon as next week after it was postponed in autumn.

Sir Keir was forced to spend months battling with the Treasury over the commitment, although a Treasury source insisted it would be "fully affordable".

Now, the Prime Minister is "determined to publish" the spending plan ahead of the international summit on July 7, Defence Secretary John Healey claimed.

But the financial boost to Britain's defences could be severely bruised by concerns over the public purse as well as the Iran war's impact on the UK economy.

As a result, concerns have been raised that the previous £18billion promised by Labour could erode to £15billion in reality, making defence plans unaffordable.

The smaller sum is feared to threaten Britain's relationship with US partners, with President Donald Trump due to attend the Ankara summit.

A US official issued a stark warning for Whitehall, claiming that a reduction by £3billion would send a "negative signal" to the President.

The same source added: "If it doesn’t come out before the Nato summit or it comes in significantly lower than expected, it will not be a good thing."

It is understood Sir Keir is looking to accelerate the publication of the defence plan because, without it, the UK would be nearing the bottom of the capabilities-based ranking amongst its Nato allies.

The Head of the Civil Service, Antonia Romeo, as well as national security adviser Jonathan Powell, have backed the extra funding for Britain's Armed Forces.

Mr Powell warned the Armed Forces could not afford the jets, munitions and advanced technology needed to fight a future war.

BRITAIN'S DEFENCES - READ MORE:

• Keir Starmer launches fightback against Andy Burnham as PM set to approve £18bn defence boost
• Britain warned redirecting £6bn away from 'first line of defence' could compromise national security
• Britain's new defence system set to protect UK assets from space

Around £6billion of the sum has already been promised to the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP).

Under the scheme, the UK will work with Japan and Italy to whip up the future of the likes of fighter jets and other combat aircraft.

The defence plan is expected as soon as next Thursday, setting out how infrastructure will be support over the next 10 years.

On the possible drop in cost, former defence secretary Ben Wallace told The Times: "Intelligence chief after military chief has warned of the threat against the UK yet Rachel Reeves and No 10 fail to fund what is necessary.

"This is weak leadership in the MoD in a Government that spends most of its time trying to work out how to tax people so they can put up benefits."

President Trump heaped pressure on European allies to boost defence spending following the Iran war while he branded the 77-year-old alliance a "paper tiger".

In the past, he, along with his officials, accused the continent of "freeloading" off America's back.

The Government said: "We have taken a new, Nato-first approach and the UK has played a leading role in the alliance since its founding.

"We are the only European Nato member to commit our nuclear deterrent in full to the alliance. We have always met our Nato spending commitments and remain one of the top defence spenders in the alliance as Nato’s third-largest cash spender on defence."