Keir Starmer

Dame Caroline Dinenage MP

Is that it? Government's grand budget plan a bit of a damp squib

Prime Minister Andy Burnham

PM accused of ‘north first’ approach by Hampshire mayoral candidate

Off the fence - Amanda Martin

OFF THE FENCE: Andy Burnham - King of the (Portsmouth) North

Sir Keir Starmer could face a row with Donald Trump over defence spending after the US president insisted Nato allies were still not spending enough (Kin Cheung/PA)

Nato allies 'disturbed' by defence investment plan delays

Elena Ratcliffe had been remanded into custody following several previous court appearance but is now on conditional bail

Victim of teenage rapists ‘will never be the same’ -sentences reviewed

Rachel Reeves said the money had been found by reprioritising spending.

'Further impacts' expected from Dip as £4.7bn spending gap revealed

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer delivers a speech in Berkshire, following the publication of long-delayed defence investment plan (Dip). Picture date: Tuesday June 30, 2026.

Starmer promises forces will 'spend better' as reforms set

A concept picture of the Type 31 class of Royal Navy warship. All 5 ships are planned to be in service with the Royal Navy by the early 2030s, but it appears that the Type 32 and Type 83 programme will be scrapped

Plan to replace Royal Navy destroyers is scrapped in favour of drones

A concept picture of the Type 31 class of Royal Navy warship. All 5 ships are planned to be in service with the Royal Navy by the early 2030s, but it appears that the Type 32 and Type 83 programme will be scrapped

Plan to replace Royal Navy destroyers and frigates 'is scrapped'

Portsmouth turned red after the General Election, with Stephen Morgan and Amanda Martin securing constituency seats.

Portsmouth MPs thank Starmer as he resigns after leadership challenge

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte delivers a speech during a press conference on the eve of a meeting of NATO Ministers of Defence at NATO headquarters in Brussels on June 17, 2026. He challenged Starmer and all Nato allies to present credible plans for increasing defence spending.

Nato chief challenges Starmer to hike defence spending before deadline

Funds are desperately needed to support our Royal Navy and armed forces, but the shambles of the defence investment plan proves they’re unlikely to get the support they need.

Opinion: Starmer needs to get serious and fund our Royal Navy

The prime minister refuses to walk away despite defence secretary John Healey and armed forces minister Al Carns resigning. Pictured: Sir Keir Starmer and then-defence secretary John Healey in front of a UK Typhoon fighter jet at Tusas airbase in Ankara during a visit to Turkey in October 2025

Starmer refuses to walk away after defence ministers quit over funding

Armed Forces minister Al Carns has followed John Healey in resigning.

'A serious country funds its defence' - Armed Forces minister resigns

John Healey has resigned as Defence Secretary

Fears raised over the future of the Armed Forces due to underfunding

Defence Secretary John Healey

Defence Secretary John Healey resigns
The Defence Secretary has resigned
Tom Morton

The Royal Navy’s two aircraft carriers, HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales alongside in Portsmouth earlier this year

Ex-Royal Navy head says armed forces 'teetering on brink of disaster'

The new local government reorganisation map for Hampshire showing the councils under LGR

Keir Starmer told council changes threaten services for vulnerable

Court

Rape victim ‘does not sleep at night’ after boys spared prison

Amanda Martin MP and Stephen Morgan MP

"Why won't Portsmouth's Labour MPs say what they think?"

Royal Navy destroyer HMS Dragon is currently deployed in the eastern Mediterranean to defend Cyprus. Shye's not currently expected to be sent to the Strait of Hormuz.

HMS Dragon to be sent to the Middle East to safeguard Strait of Hormuz

Sir Keir Starmer making a speech in front of a union flag

'We can ease the pressure Portsmouth families face' - Keir Starmer

Lord Robertson of Port Ellen, who co-wrote the Strategic Defence Review (SDR), said the UK is lacking in ammunition, training, people, logistics, and medical capacity.

'Corrosive complacency' hitting Strategic Defence Review reforms

Prime minister Sir Keir Starmer has called for the US to "find a way through" after peace talks with Iran fail.

Peace talks with Iran fail - Starmer calls for US to "find a way"

Chief of the Defence Staff at the Ministry of Defence Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Knighton said the Royal Navy is ready to seize Russian shadow fleet ships.

'We are ready': Royal Navy prepared to seize Russia shadow fleet ships

Amanda Martin MP visiting local nursery provision

Campaign win for Portsmouth MP Amanda Martin as new Best Start nursery comes to ...

HMS Dragon sounds the horn as passes the Round Tower in Old Portsmouth.

HMS Dragon nears Cyprus less than two weeks after leaving Portsmouth
HMS Dragon has arrived in the eastern Mediterranean three weeks after its deployment was first announced, the defence secretary has said.
Joe Williams

President Donald Trump has paused strikes on Iran, after previously claiming the US would target the country's energy plants. He later announced a pause in strikes, as Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary issued a warning regarding possible fuel theft.

Fuel theft warning issued by police as Trump pauses Iran strikes

The UK will buy more missiles for forces in the Middle East, as prime minister dismissed criticisms from US President Donald Trump.

UK will buy more missiles for forces in Middle East amid Iran war

Amanda Martin MP

POLITICAL COMMENT: Major employment drive to help unlock 200,000 new jobs and ap...

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said a viable plan is being worked on to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, resisting the call from Donald Trump to deploy more Royal Navy ships to the region.

'Viable plan' being formulated to reopen Strait of Hormuz, PM said

HMS Dragon being readied in Portsmouth on March 4 ahead of the warship’s deployment to Cyprus.

Union 'reveals reason' why HMS Dragon has not yet left Portsmouth

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer speaking during a press conference to give an update on the latest situation in the Middle East, in the Downing Street Briefing Room in London. He believes HMS Dragon and other assets can be deployed 'at speed' to protect British lives.

Starmer believes HMS Dragon can be deployed 'at speed' - new jets sent

HMS Dragon was summoned to the waters west of the Hebrides to monitor Russian activity. (Image: Nicky Wilson/MoD)

Portsmouth-based warship to be sent to protect Cyprus

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is considering a ban on social media for under-16s.

Council urges Sir Keir Starmer to ban under-16s from social media

Amanda Martin MP

Political comment: Amanda Martin MP welcomes Labour's plan to protect leaseholde...

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer addressed the "£28bn shortfall" in defence spending, after being accused of being weak by Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch.

Starmer accused of being "weak" on defence spending

Prime minister Sir Keir Starmer gestures as he delivers a statement in the media briefing room of 9 Downing Street in central London, after US president Donald Trump's threats to ramp up tariffs until a deal is reached for the US to buy Greenland.

PM calls for "calm discussion" amid Trump Greenland invasion threat

Alan Mak MP says mandatory Digital ID would not be an effective way to tackle illegal immigration

Political comment: Havant MP Alan Mak welcomes Labour Government U-turn on manda...

Off the Fence column with Dame Caroline Dinenage, MP for Gosport

Britain is reportedly facing a £28bn shortfall in defence funding. Pictured: Prime Minister Keir Starmer (L) with Air Chief Marshal Richard Knighton (2R) during a visit to a defence contractor in Bedfordshire on May 2, 2025.

Keir Starmer warned of £28bn Royal Navy defence funding chasm

Stephen Morgan MP

Labour unleashing full power of the state to protect girls and confront misogyny...

Ad Feature No tricks, just treats for Portsmouth’s business community

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said RAF jets will be deployed to Poland after Russian drones violated the country's airspace.

"Russians ramping up aggression": RAF jets to deploy, Starmer said

Amanda Martin with nurses at QA Hospital

Portsmouth MP Amanda Martin marks Emergency Services Day – a national day of tha...

Havant MP Alan Mak

Political comment: MP Alan Mak slams Labour Government as 1,154 more households ...

Alan Mak MP says victims and survivors must be at the heart of a new national inquiry into grooming gangs

Political opinion: Havant MP Alan Mak urges Prime Minister to place victims and ...

Stephen Morgan MP

Political opinion: City MP backs plan to support thousands more Portsmouth famil...

Tour of new £500m Amazon fulfilment centre on outskirts of Leeds. Workers pictured in the factory. Picture taken by Yorkshire Post Photographer Simon Hulme

Amazon announces £40bn UK investment including thousands of jobs

Kneecap are due to perform at Glastonbury 2025

Why Kneecap’s Glastonbury set needs to be televised Matthew Mohan-Hickson

Royal Navy warship HMS Spey carried out a freedom of navigation patrol in the Taiwan strait in defiance of China.

Defiant Navy warship ignores China warnings and patrols Taiwan strait

Alan Mak MP on the Opposition Front Bench as Home Secretary Yvette Cooper makes her statement in the House

Havant MP Alan Mak welcomes Labour u-turn on national rape gangs inquiry after 1...

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer speaking in the House of Commons. Picture: House of Commons/UK Parliament/PA Wire

Prime Minister hints at a possible winter fuel payment U-turn

Alan Mak MP (fourth left) watches from the Opposition Front Bench as Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch responds to the Labour Government's EU deal

Political Comment: Havant MP Alan Mak condemns Labour Government's deal with EU ...

Guinness owner hit by US trade tariffs and AI assisted shopping surge

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