Defence secretary says he will give arms industry ‘clarity and confidence’ in contrast to row preceding Starmer’s exit

Wes Streeting has said increased defence spending would make “an enormous contribution” to economic growth as he emphasised that the military will be a spending priority for Andy Burnham’s government over other departments.

The new defence secretary, in a speech at the Farnborough airshow, did not make any extra financial commitments but promised he would give the arms industry “clarity and confidence” in contrast to the row that contributed to the fall of Keir Starmer.