Starmer defies critics to publish defence plan before Nato summit

Outgoing Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is pressing ahead with plans to publish the controversial Defence Investment Plan (Dip) in the coming weeks.

The Dip is expected to be unveiled before the Nato summit in Ankara, which begins on 7 July, a deadline confirmed by Chancellor Rachel Reeves and Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy.

Sir Keir will still be in office for the publication, as nominations for his successor are not due to open until after the summit.

The plan has faced significant opposition, leading to the resignations of former defence secretary John Healey and armed forces minister Al Carns over concerns about its funding.

Andy Burnham, currently the frontrunner for the Labour leadership contest, has called for the Dip to be delayed until he is in Downing Street, expressing a desire to review the plan himself, according to a report in The Times.