Story perspectives

Starmer Secures £15bn Defence, Treasury Takes Jet Programme

6/9/2026

Summary

Story summary

Prime Minister Keir Starmer secured about £15 billion of defence funding before the NATO summit, despite intense infighting that has left cabinet relations strained.
The Treasury cut 1 % of the transport department’s capital budget, while Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander kept funding for new buses, trains and HS2.
In exchange, the Treasury will assume control of a multibillion-pound fighter-jet programme, a step Chancellor Rachel Reeves called frustrating for sacrificing growth projects.

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Story summary

Prime Minister Keir Starmer secured about £15 billion of defence funding before the NATO summit, despite intense infighting that has left cabinet relations strained.
The Treasury cut 1 % of the transport department’s capital budget, while Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander kept funding for new buses, trains and HS2.
In exchange, the Treasury will assume control of a multibillion-pound fighter-jet programme, a step Chancellor Rachel Reeves called frustrating for sacrificing growth projects.