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Order! Order.

Hello, I'm Sean Curran, and this is today in Parliament from BBC Radio 4 for Tuesday, the 25th of February,

when the Prime Minister brought forward plans to increase defence spending.

I can announce this government will begin the biggest sustained increase in defence spending

since the end of the Cold War.

The Conservatives say government help with rising bills will be eaten up by the increase in

the energy price cap.

The announcement today is, frankly, a sticking plaster approach to rising energy bills.

And the Chief Constable of Merseyside reveals what she said to officials at the Crown Prosecution Service

after they told her not to release factual information about the Southport murderer.

I need to help my colleagues out, my fellow chief constables.

Some of the streets of the UK are on fire and I need to help them as much

as I can. The Prime Minister took Westminster by surprise when, with just 24 hours to go before his

visit to Washington, it was announced that Sakea Stama would make a statement to MPs about defence

and security. At the election, Labour promised to set out the path to spending 2.5% of the country's

income or GDP on defence. The Labour manifesto didn't say when this would happen and the government

has faced repeated calls to spell out when it would spend more. Starting today, I can announce this government will begin

the biggest sustained increase in defence spending

since the end of the Cold War.

We will deliver our commitment to spend 2.5% of GDP on defence,

but we will bring it forward

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