Politics · 5 August 2026

Statistics watchdog says Keir Starmer misled MPs over £270bn defence spending claim

Speaking to a committee in March, the former prime minister claimed the military budget would grow by £270bn. Penny Young, interim head of the UK Statistics Authority, wrote on Tuesday that this number was actually total planned spending. Shadow defence secretary James Cartlidge triggered the inquiry, pointing out that the Ministry of Defence also repeated the false numbers.

By BriefTea Editorial · 5 August 2026 at 18:35

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