Starmer’s options in funding a further defence spending rise would be limited

Competing domestic priorities, Treasury borrowing limits and already nervous lenders are among the many obstacles

Keir Starmer has few options if he wants to increase annual defence spending by up to 14bn before the end of this parliament.

In last summer's spending review, the government set out plans to increase defence spending from 2.3% of national income, or gross domestic product (GDP), in 2024-25 - about 66bn, to 2.6% in 2028-29.