The Guardian – Starmer calls on Nato to increase defence spending
Keir Starmer is set to call on NATO countries to increase defence spending in response to rising global threats, according to The Guardian. Elsewhere, the front page features a large image of Jude Bellingham ahead of England’s clash with the Netherlands tonight. An exclusive on Lucy Letby – asking if she’s a killer or was it all a coincidence. The latest from Russia and calls for President Biden to quit the US general election race also make the front splash.
Starmer to urge Nato members to boost defence spending amid UK review
Keir Starmer will call on Nato countries to increase defence spending in response to rising global threats as he launches a major review setting out UK plans to spend tens of billions of pounds extra on the military.
The prime minister will use Nato’s 75th-anniversary summit in Washington, his first international trip since winning power, to underline Britain’s “cast-iron” commitment to the defence alliance.
He will say that further increases in spending from allies will help Nato tackle the nature of today’s threats including Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, continued instability in the Middle East and the rise of authoritarian states.
A strategic defence review will be launched next week but is likely to take up to a year to complete, meaning growing pressure on Starmer to confirm a timetable for the UK to boost defence spending to its target of 2.5% of GDP.
Time for England to show their quality or Gareth Southgate era will be over
Key to the euphoria that greeted England’s demolition of the Netherlands at Euro 96 was that no one – perhaps other than the manager, Terry Venables – saw it coming. Dutch football was treated as something impossibly sophisticated back then, so when Venables’s tactics flummoxed the country of Johan Cruyff it was inevitable that his side’s 4-1 win would still be a talking point 28 years later.
These days, though, it takes more than winning a big group game for England to capture the public’s imagination. The time has passed when success is measured in cautious progress through tournaments. Expectations have gone through the roof this summer and Gareth Southgate, while proud of the advancements made during his eight years in charge, knows that the only question left to answer is whether he can push his team over the line at Euro 2024.
Lucy Letby: killer or coincidence? Why some experts question the evidence
The verdict handed down to the former neonatal nurse Lucy Letby last week brought to an end more than 21 months of court proceedings. After two trials and two attempts to appeal, Letby has been convicted of murdering seven babies and attempting to murder seven others. She is serving whole-life sentences.
For many there has been little room for doubt that Letby is the worst child serial killer in British history. Jurors heard harrowing testimony from the parents of the babies who died, and were shown notes scrawled by Letby and shift rotas that were used to condemn her.
Throughout the trial period, and much of the preceding six years when Cheshire police were investigating a cluster of baby deaths at the Countess of Chester (CoC) hospital and had arrested Letby, laws intended to ensure juries are not influenced by stories in the press meant British journalists reported only what was said in court.
Today’s news summary – Paper Talk
If you are someone who reads every perspective of a story, here is a news summary of all of today’s front pages from today’s newspapers; summarised in a 2-minute read
Editorial 10 July 2024.
Wednesday’s front pages report on the Nato summit in Washington and England’s upcoming Euros match against the Netherlands – the winner will face Spain in the finals.
Most papers lead on UK politics. Sir Keir Starmer is heading to Washington to join the Nato summit where he’ll urge other European countries to up their defence spending. For many of the right-learning conservative newspapers, there are concerns Starmer is acting quickly enough and anger over Labour’s decision to rip up the Rwanda plan.
Many of the tabloids lead on the upcoming Euros match.
