Critics have accused Starmer of undermining national security by scaling back defence spending pledges, fuelling concerns about readiness amid the ongoing war, with Britain and its allies firmly opposed to Russian aggression.

Ministers face scrutiny as newly released data shows foreign nationals claiming around £1 billion per month in benefits, prompting concerns over the viability of recent cost-saving measures.

A senior government figure has warned that proposals to leave a longstanding European rights framework mirror alarming 1930s-style extremism, prompting debate over the potential erosion of vital legal protections.