Increasing defence spending will mean government breaking promises elsewhere

Donald Trump is demanding that European allies spend more on defence, and the prime minister is nodding along. At a summit in Paris, Sir Keir Starmer will urge his counterparts to take the new president seriously and to make concrete spending commitments before the NATO summit in June. Starmer is taking a leading role at the summit, but some might (rightfully) point out that Britain has itself dithered when it comes to parting with actual cash. Labour has already pledged to increase defence spending from 2.3% to 2.5% of GDP but, as of yet, there is no date for when…