We witnessed UK and US military drills near Russian border

Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper has told ITV News that the government is increasing defence spending too slowly. She said it is imperative to move "further and faster" than the current plans, to ensure the 3% of GDP target is met.

Ahead of the publication of the Defence Investment Plan, or "DIP" next week - which is set to be Sir Keir Starmer’s last big initiative as PM - she said in an exclusive ITV News interview that the funding element of the DIP was inadequate.

She is siding with John Healey, who resigned as defence secretary last month because of his deep concern that Starmer’s plan to spend just 2.68% of GDP on defence is imperilling the country’s security.

Cooper is also highlighting a major dilemma for Andy Burnham for the early weeks of his time in office, if he becomes prime minister, because he won’t be able to find the extra £15 billion a year, or so Cooper believes is needed for defence.

Her intervention will increase pressure on him to spell out how he will reconcile his many priorities that are all competing for additional money, including major reforms to reduce the cost of energy and housing.

Burnham is yet to say whether he will increase taxation - or can accelerate savings from welfare reform - given that his commitment to stay within the fiscal rules would make it impossible to borrow significantly more.

ITV News was speaking to Cooper as she visited a military encampment near the Russian border, where British, Polish, American and other NATO troops are engaged in continuous exercises and preparations for a possible Russian invasion.

• Subscribe to ITV News on YouTube: http://bit.ly/2lOHmNj
• Get breaking news and more stories at http://www.itv.com/news

Follow ITV News on TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@itvnews?lang=en
Follow ITV News on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/itvnews/
Follow ITV News on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/itvnews/
Follow ITV News on X: https://twitter.com/itvnews