Funding row over Starmer’s ‘battle-ready’ Britain plans

Tuesday, June 3, 2025

Good morning and welcome to your daily news briefing from The Independent.

Keir Starmer's bold defence plans have been overshadowed by a row over money, Mount Etna has erupted in Sicily, and police have launched a new search for Madeleine McCann in Portugal.

Top stories

1 | Starmer vows to make UK 'battle-ready' – but row over funding threatens to derail plans

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2 | Huge Mount Etna eruption in Italy sends tourists fleeing

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3 | Police launch new search for Madeleine McCann in Portugal - latest

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4 | Powerful 5.8-magnitude earthquake felt strongly in Rhodes and Turkey

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5 | NHS trust at centre of maternity deaths scandal investigated for manslaughter

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