The UK will “war-game” how British troops could be sustained on the frontline in the event of intense fighting and supply chain disruption.
In the first defence industrial strategy since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, the government will set out measures to strengthen national security amid increasing global threats and instability.
It comes after Defence Secretary John Healey told a Politico podcast the armed forces were not ready to fight after being hollowed out during 14 years of Conservative rule – before himself announcing warships, military helicopters and drones would be scrapped to save money.
Mr Healey will outline the new approach, which aims to show enemies the UK has an industrial base that can innovate at a wartime pace, at a conference in London on Monday.
A “war game” will explore how the UK defence industry and the Ministry of Defence can develop a faster and more resilient supply chain.
UK firms will be prioritised to receive taxpayers’ money as part of the strategy Mr Healey will tell investors can help provide “the foundation for a decade of national renewal”.
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5:31
Is the UK prepared for war?
“Our defence sector should be an engine for jobs and growth, strengthening our security and economy,” he said.
“That requires a defence industry that is better and more integrated – one that can keep our armed forces equipped, innovating at a wartime pace, and ahead of our adversaries.”
Investors and trade unions will be among those invited to offer views on the sector, with a pledge to increase jobs in in “every nation and region of the UK”.
The strategy is expected to be published in the first half of 2025, with consultation open until the end of February, with the last version published in 2021.
“We will mobilise the private sector to help face down global threats, direct more public investment to British businesses and create jobs and growth in every nation and region of the UK,” Mr Healey said.
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2:20
From 2023: What aid has UK provided to Ukraine?
“National security is the foundation for national stability and growth. We are sending a signal to the market and to our adversaries: with a strong UK defence sector we will make Britain secure at home and strong abroad.”
It comes after the UK has provided millions of pounds worth of weapons in the form of military aid to Ukraine, for its fight against Russia.
Meanwhile, last week, head of MI6 Sir Richard Moore warned his agency was aware of a “staggeringly reckless campaign of Russian sabotage in Europe” and he’d “never seen the world in a more dangerous state” due to the risk that Russia would succeed in its conflict with its neighbour.
Earlier this week, the prime minister confirmed his party was looking to make changes to its controversial slashing of winter fuel payments to pensioners at an upcoming “fiscal event”.
Little clarity was provided on when this would be – the budget in the autumn thought the most likely.
Image: Angela Rayner says she wants the changes announced soon. Pic: PA
Ms Rayner has now suggested the 11 June spending review in just over a fortnight is her preferred date.
She told Sky News: “I think that we’ve got the upcoming spending review, and I’m sure that the chancellor will set it out when we’ve got the opportunity – at the first opportunity Trevor she will set out what we’ll be able to do.”
Asked if changes might be announced at the review, Ms Rayner said: “I hope so, but I don’t know. But I hope so.
“I mean, the prime minister’s announced it, so logically to me that indicates that the prime minister wants to do something in this area.
“And if the prime minister wants to do that, I’m sure the chancellor is going to look at how we can achieve that.”
Some might suggest Ms Rayner’s stance was a bid to push Downing Street into an announcement faster than it previously wanted.
It would add to rumours the deputy prime minister is unhappy with the way Sir Keir and Rachel Reeves are running the government.
However, when asked by Trevor Phillips if she wanted to lead her party, Ms Rayner was unequivocal.
“No. I’m very happy and honoured to be deputy prime minister of this country,” she said.
“And I’ve got a lot in my in-tray to prove that I can do the job that I’m doing and deliver on the milestones for the people in this country.”
She continued: “I have no desire to go for the leadership of the Labour Party.”
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Asked to say the word “never”, Ms Rayner repeated “never”.
Ms Rayner also confirmed a leak inquiry was under way after her proposals on tax and spend sent to the chancellor ended up published in The Daily Telegraph.
This weekend, it has become clear there is a price to pay for Sir Keir Starmer’s decision to row back on winter fuel payment cuts.
One MP said in a text message: “We all want to see more”, while former prime minister Gordon Brown told Sky News this week the two-child benefit cap was “pretty discriminatory” and could be scrapped.
Image: Nigel Farage is expected to call for the two-child benefit cap to be scrapped
The cap, which prevents parents from claiming child tax credit or universal credit for more than two children, is a symbolic sore for Labour that saw seven MPs suspended from the party last year.
Now it’s back to cause more trouble.
A Downing Street source suggests little has changed in the last week, and looking at the cap has always been part of the (now delayed) Child Poverty Strategy.
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1:22
‘You’ve got to be fair to pensioners’
But, beyond the whispers behind the scenes, one thing has overtly changed this weekend – growing pressure from Nigel Farage.
Mr Farage is parking his tanks on Labour’s lawn, trying to tap into working-class votes on uncomfortable territory for Mr Starmer.
How would they pay for it? A combination of closing asylum hotels, cutting aid, and scrapping net-zero targets, the party says.
Image: Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch
Headline-grabbing move
The beauty of not being in power is not having to make all the sums add up right now, and it is a headline-grabbing announcement that will, at the very least, reignite the conversation about the two-child cap.
It’s also a reminder that Reform UK, who were beaten by Labour in 89 out of the 98 constituencies they came second in last year, have set their sights beyond the Conservatives.
As for the Tories, who introduced the measure in 2017, leader Kemi Badenoch is clear, saying: “If you can’t afford to have lots of children, then you shouldn’t do so”.
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1:26
Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner is hoping for an update on the winter fuel allowance
Blue water between Tories and Reform UK
So, there is blue water between the Conservatives and Reform, but it’s the prime minister and his party that Nigel Farage is targeting now, and Labour is unclear on where it stands.
With the spending review fast approaching, Sir Keir and Chancellor Rachel Reeves will be working out the actual cost, beyond the political one, of rowing back on winter fuel payment cuts.
But will the anger that the policy ignited among some Labour MPs end there? Or will it move to another uncomfortable subject?
As one MP puts it: “If there’s money for pensioners, why not children?”
Pakistan has allocated 2,000 megawatts of surplus electricity exclusively for Bitcoin mining and artificial intelligence centers.
The move is part of a broader digital transformation plan spearheaded by the Pakistan Crypto Council and backed by the Ministry of Finance, according to a May 25 report by local news outlet 24NewsHD TV Channel.
In the first phase, the government plans to channel excess power into AI infrastructure and crypto mining operations. Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb said the decision is expected to attract billions in foreign investment while generating high-tech employment across the country.
The initiativeâs second phase will introduce access to renewable energy for mining operations, aiming to balance growth with environmental responsibility.
Pakistan unveils tax incentives to attract investors
Per the report, interest from international Bitcoin (BTC) miners and AI firms has already picked up. Officials confirmed that multiple foreign delegations have visited Pakistan in recent months to explore potential partnerships.
To further incentivize investment, the Ministry of Finance announced a package of tax incentives for AI centers and duty exemptions for Bitcoin miners.
Bilal Bin Saqib, CEO of Pakistanâs Crypto Council, reportedly welcomed the development, calling it a âturning pointâ for the countryâs digital economy.
Saqib claimed that with clear regulations and a transparent framework, Pakistan could emerge as a significant player in the global crypto and AI sectors.
The meeting included lawmakers, the Bank of Pakistanâs governor, the chairman of Pakistanâs Securities and Exchange Commission (SECP), and the federal information technology secretary.
The Pakistan Digital Assets Authority (PDAA) will serve as a regulatory body to oversee licensing and regulating exchanges, custodians, wallets, tokenized platforms, stablecoins, and decentralized finance applications.
Pakistan ranked highly in Chainalysisâ 2024 crypto adoption index, coming in ninth, mainly due to strong retail adoption and transactions at centralized services.
Pakistan ranked highly in Chainalysisâ 2024 crypto adoption index, coming in 9th. Source:Â Chainalysis
Data from Statista also shows Pakistanâs crypto market is âexperiencing rapid growth,â estimating the number of crypto users to amount to over 27 million by 2025, out of a population of 247 million.