Newscast The Week: Defence, Spending Review and What Next For Reform UK?
Jun 6, 2025
The podcast kicks off with a humorous tale of a train adventure from a Prime Minister's defense announcement, complete with delays and scenic distractions. The discussion shifts to the looming Spending Review, where hard choices on defense spending are on the table amid global uncertainties. The hosts dive into the new zero-based budgeting approach, aiming to optimize financial management. They also reflect on the internal strife within Reform UK following Zia Youssef's resignation and explore the broader political impacts on the Conservative party’s future.
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Adam's Sleeper Train Delay
- Adam Fleming experienced a train disruption on the Caledonian sleeper, spending four hours stuck in Glasgow overnight.
- This illustrates unexpected challenges in what was planned as a smooth travel back to Westminster.
Rising Defence Spending Targets
- Defence spending targets have shifted from 2% to between 3% and 5% as geopolitical pressures rise.
- Countries now see defence as intertwined with economic growth and industrial strategy, not just security.
Spending Review Tough Trade-offs
- The UK government must balance capital investment in infrastructure and day-to-day revenue spending in the upcoming Spending Review.
- Defence and public services face tough trade-offs due to the limited budget and growing demands.