Labour's own MPs have warned Sir Keir Starmer that a failure to boost military spending could put the "special relationship" with the US at risk.
Starmer is expected to delay bringing defence spending up to 2.5 per cent of GDP until after 2030, The Times revealed - a cut below President Donald Trump's expectations.
Prior to his return to the White House last week, Trump was understood to be approaching Nato allies with a "demand five per cent, accept three per cent" line on military expenditure as part of the alliance.
Labour quartet Luke Akehurst, Dan Carden, Tan Dhesi and Luke Pollard have all made public statements calling for a spending boost, with defence committee chairman Dhesi warning: "The cost of fighting a war... is significantly higher than providing a credible deterrence force."
While Liverpool Walton MP Carden said: "The simple reality is to build strong alliances, we must maintain and build our autonomy. To maintain a good relationship with the US, we will have to spend more on defence."
Five former Tory Defence Secretaries - Grant Shapps, Sir Ben Wallace, Penny Mordaunt, Sir Gavin Williamson and Sir Michael Fallon - have turned up the heat on Labour too.
Shapps told The Sun: "This decision is a green light to adversaries and a slap in the face to our armed forces," while Mordaunt added: "The default setting of the Starmer Government is to pivot away from the US.
"All things are possible if there's the political will to do it," she said.
FOLLOW BELOW FOR LIVE UPDATES THROUGHOUT THE DAY…
Reform UK's Rupert Lowe has called for an urgent review of Britain's asylum processing system as "thousands" of migrants are "slipping through the net" without proper evidence.
Writing on social media this morning, the party's Great Yarmouth MP said he had pushed on the Home Office to "review every single successful asylum claim from those who have arrived illegally" and called for heightened "face-to-face" processing of migrants trying to settle in Britain.
"Currently, thousands of illegal migrants are being approved for any such claims on their sexuality, religion, gender identity, age and more... With very little actual evidence required. It's a scam," he warned.
"The Home Office needs to get its act together, not just for future cases, but also all those who have already been approved.
"Thousands have slipped through the net, to be eligible for benefits, housing and their families joining them in the UK. No, no, no.
"Evidently, the authorities aren't going to do the right thing and deport anyone arriving illegally. We need to ensure that refugee claims aren't being approved in a mad rush. Every single case must be urgently reviewed."
Ex-Metropolitan Police chief superintendent Dal Babu has warned that ministers must be "very, very careful" when changing legislation around extremism following last night's leak of the Home Office's "Rapid Analytical Sprint" counter-extremism review.
He told the BBC: "I think it's very, very important that we do things in a measured way - we don't do things very, very quickly when we're outraged by incidents.
"Unfortunately when we have these outrageous murders of innocent people, people are quite rightly angry and want to know whether things can be done different. What are the missed opportunities?
"But I think the key things are to look at the missed opportunities, look at the resources we have in place to deal with serious incidents, and be very, very careful of introducing legislation quickly or making changes quickly."
Asked whether the Met had the resources to cope with a broadened definition of extremism, Babu said: "I think, to be perfectly honest, we're at the moment struggling with the resources we have to deal with terrorism now."
Britons who hold fears about two-tier policing peddle an "extremist narrative", a leaked Home Office document shared with GB News has claimed.
The People's Channel was sent a copy of the Home Office's Rapid Analytical Sprint by the think tank Policy Exchange.
The document, which is looking to determine the UK's future counter-extremism policy, directly addresses concerns about two-tier policing.
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage and Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick have been among the most promiment politicians calling for an end to so-called two-tier policing, particularly when it comes to the grooming gangs scandal and the handling of pro-Palestine protesters.
READ THE FULL STORY HERE
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Starmer is expected to delay bringing defence spending up to 2.5 per cent of GDP until after 2030, The Times revealed - a cut below President Donald Trump's expectations.
Prior to his return to the White House last week, Trump was understood to be approaching Nato allies with a "demand five per cent, accept three per cent" line on military expenditure as part of the alliance.
Labour quartet Luke Akehurst, Dan Carden, Tan Dhesi and Luke Pollard have all made public statements calling for a spending boost, with defence committee chairman Dhesi warning: "The cost of fighting a war... is significantly higher than providing a credible deterrence force."
While Liverpool Walton MP Carden said: "The simple reality is to build strong alliances, we must maintain and build our autonomy. To maintain a good relationship with the US, we will have to spend more on defence."
Five former Tory Defence Secretaries - Grant Shapps, Sir Ben Wallace, Penny Mordaunt, Sir Gavin Williamson and Sir Michael Fallon - have turned up the heat on Labour too.
Shapps told The Sun: "This decision is a green light to adversaries and a slap in the face to our armed forces," while Mordaunt added: "The default setting of the Starmer Government is to pivot away from the US.
"All things are possible if there's the political will to do it," she said.
FOLLOW BELOW FOR LIVE UPDATES THROUGHOUT THE DAY…
Reform UK calls for urgent 'asylum seekers' review as thousands slip through the net - 'It's a scam!'
Reform UK's Rupert Lowe has called for an urgent review of Britain's asylum processing system as "thousands" of migrants are "slipping through the net" without proper evidence.
Writing on social media this morning, the party's Great Yarmouth MP said he had pushed on the Home Office to "review every single successful asylum claim from those who have arrived illegally" and called for heightened "face-to-face" processing of migrants trying to settle in Britain.
"Currently, thousands of illegal migrants are being approved for any such claims on their sexuality, religion, gender identity, age and more... With very little actual evidence required. It's a scam," he warned.
"The Home Office needs to get its act together, not just for future cases, but also all those who have already been approved.
"Thousands have slipped through the net, to be eligible for benefits, housing and their families joining them in the UK. No, no, no.
"Evidently, the authorities aren't going to do the right thing and deport anyone arriving illegally. We need to ensure that refugee claims aren't being approved in a mad rush. Every single case must be urgently reviewed."
'Be very, very careful' - Former Met Chief's warning to Home Office as Cooper moves to target 'extremism'
Ex-Metropolitan Police chief superintendent Dal Babu has warned that ministers must be "very, very careful" when changing legislation around extremism following last night's leak of the Home Office's "Rapid Analytical Sprint" counter-extremism review.
He told the BBC: "I think it's very, very important that we do things in a measured way - we don't do things very, very quickly when we're outraged by incidents.
"Unfortunately when we have these outrageous murders of innocent people, people are quite rightly angry and want to know whether things can be done different. What are the missed opportunities?
"But I think the key things are to look at the missed opportunities, look at the resources we have in place to deal with serious incidents, and be very, very careful of introducing legislation quickly or making changes quickly."
Asked whether the Met had the resources to cope with a broadened definition of extremism, Babu said: "I think, to be perfectly honest, we're at the moment struggling with the resources we have to deal with terrorism now."
Our top story from last night: Two-tier policing fears branded 'an extremist narrative' - fury as leaked doc exposes Home Office distain for public's concerns
Britons who hold fears about two-tier policing peddle an "extremist narrative", a leaked Home Office document shared with GB News has claimed.
The People's Channel was sent a copy of the Home Office's Rapid Analytical Sprint by the think tank Policy Exchange.
The document, which is looking to determine the UK's future counter-extremism policy, directly addresses concerns about two-tier policing.
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage and Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick have been among the most promiment politicians calling for an end to so-called two-tier policing, particularly when it comes to the grooming gangs scandal and the handling of pro-Palestine protesters.
READ THE FULL STORY HERE
Politics LIVE
Welcome back to GB News' Politics LIVE blog.
We'll be updating this page throughout the day with live politics updates as they come in.
Find Out More...