Minister warns UK faces 'new threats in very dangerous world' and 'is not in peace'

Defence minister Luke Pollard has said the UK faces "new threats" in a "very dangerous ."

Speaking to Breakfast, he said: "We know that we live in a very dangerous world." He added there were "new threats" facing the country after stating the government that had a "lack of investment" and "falling" morale. His comments comes amid a defence review that he claims will set out new investment, address the "scandal" of military accommodation, as well as setting out plans that make defence an "engine for growth."

Mr Pollard added he had "no doubt whatsoever" that the UK would hit its 3 per cent defence spending pledge in the next Parliament, expected to be by 2034. When asked on the BBC whether it was a cast-iron pledge, Mr Pollard said the move was "exactly what the prime minister set out" back in February.

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Prime Minister said reaching the 3 per cent was an ambition but stopped short of making it an official commitment. Speaking to the BBC, Mr Starmer said the world had entered an era of "greater instability" and threats" and wanted his defence spending review to lay out the challenges facing the country.

"If you want to deter conflict, then the best way to prepare for conflict," Mr Starmer added. His first commitment is to raise defence spending by 2.5 per cent by 2027/28.

But Mr Starmer would not give a clear sate for the 3 per cent figure. He added: "Therefore, what you can take from this is - yes - that 3 per cent but I am not, as the prime minister of a Labour Government, going to make a commitment as to the precise date, until I couldn't be sure precisely where the money is coming from, how we can make good on that commitment."

Mr Starmer said the last time defence spending was at those levels, it was under a Labour government. The Prime Minister pointed to threats abroad and the head of the British Army General Sir Rolad Walker having previously warned that the country needed to be ready to fight a war within three years as reasons to enhance the country's defence.

"We have to recognise the world has changed, and if the world has changed we need to be ready," Mr Starmer said, when asked about the UK's defence. "What I would say, as a way of reassurance, is if you want to deter conflict then the best way to do that is to prepare for conflict."

When quizzed by the BBC's Nick Robinson wither that could mean British troops being sent to fight, Mr Starmer said: "I very much hope not."

He added the country needed to prepare in order to make sure it was ready to fight a war, pointing to the threat posed by and an expansionist . Russia's invasion of has put neighbouring countries and NATO allies on high alert amid fears Putin could invade the Baltic states in a bid to force the countries into a new Russian Empire in all but name.

The Labour government is also set to outline its plans to build up to 12 attack submarines as well as spending an estimated £15 billion more on the country's nuclear weapons programme.