Andy Burnham accused of leaving 'Britain's security underfunded' as Labour considers delaying defence spending decision

Andy Burnham has been accused of leaving "Britain's security underfunded" as Labour weighs up a delay to a decision on when to boost defence spending.

Ministers had been expected to set out a timetable for increasing defence spending to three per cent of GDP in spring, which would outline plans for all Government spending until the end of the decade.

But the UK Government is now considering whether to delay the review until the autumn of next year.

It is hoped pushing back a final decision to coincide with the next Budget will allow ministers to foot the bill for the increase through raising taxes or slashing spending.

Reaching the Nato defence spending target of three per cent is expected to cost roughly £10billion per year, according to the Institute for Fiscal Studies.

One Whitehall source told The Times the “working assumption” among civil servants is that the review will not place until October.

The Conservatives are expected to unveil plans to build a £10billion "Iron Dome" missile defence system to protect Britain at the party conference in Birmingham today.

Announcing plans for the “Britannia Shield”, Kemi Badenoch said the move proves her party are taking Britain's security seriously, while the Prime Minister would still “not commit the money Britain needs for defence”.

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Kemi Badenoch admits it would be 'difficult' to reinstate pension triple lock if scrapped by Labour

Kemi Badenoch has admitted it would be "difficult" to reinstate the pension triple lock if it were to be scrapped by Labour.

The Tory leader insisted that while it was party policy to keep it in place, she refused to commit to reversing any changes to legislation that axes it in its current form.

She told Times Radio: “I have said that the triple lock is our policy and it remains our policy. I don’t think going after pensioners is the right thing when there are loads of people who can work, who won’t work.

“When we are going to reverse Labour’s policies, I say we are going to reverse their policies.

“I have said that we are keeping this policy, but if they take that money and they spend it on something that we can’t get it back from, then it would be difficult for me."

Tories vow to keep 'political activism' out of the classroom under education overhaul 

The Conservatives will today vow to keep "political activism" out of the classroom as part of plans to overhaul Britain's education system.

At the Conservative Party Conference in Birmingham, Shadow Education Secretary Laura Trott is expected to announce new powers for Ofsted to shield pupils from left-wing indoctrination and ensure schools remain politically neutral.

The Tory frontbencher will announce a new seven-point plan designed to allow parents to keep tabs on what their children are being taught and measures to report any teachers who push radical agendas.

"We will kick political activism out of the classroom, but never our values," she will say.

Zack Polanski said a vote for him is a vote 'for Israel' as shock comments resurface 

Zack Polanski previously said a vote for him is a vote "for Israel" – words that will undoubtedly reverberate with a sense of irony among many following this weekend's controversial motion.

The Green Party passed the "Zionism is racism" motion yesterday, resulting in severe backlash from all political corners – including from within.

The leader of the Jewish Greens yesterday threatened to leave the party, slamming the vote as "unhelpful", while Mr Polanski, who is Jewish, has been banned from entering Israel, despite not voting on the motion himself.

But in comments recovered from 2016, the Green Party leader appears to position himself as pro-Israel.

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