Rishi Sunak holds talks with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz as they pledge to ... trends now
Rishi Sunak is holding talks with the German Chancellor today as he urges NATO allies to follow Britain's example on defence spending.
The PM was greeted warmly by Olaf Scholz as he arrived for their meeting in Berlin - with discussions expected to focus on security, trade and migration.
At a joint press conference, Mr Scholz said they were committed to supporting Ukraine for 'as long as it takes'.
Mr Sunak said they were opening a 'new chapter' in defence cooperation.
It is Mr Sunak's first visit to Berlin since entering No10, amid reports German diplomats were unhappy he had not made the country a priority.
Rishi Sunak is holding talks with the German Chancellor today as he urges NATO allies to follow Britain's example on defence spending
The PM was greeted warmly by Olaf Scholz as he arrived for their meeting in Berlin - with discussions expected to focus on security, trade and migration
Asked at a press conference in Berlin whether his defence increase will mean tax rises and deep cuts, he said that was 'not a fair characterisation'.
'The plan that I announced yesterday is fully funded. It's funded rightly by a reduction in the civil service headcount back to 2019 levels… combined with an uplift in R&D spending.
'But you're right. We are making a choice to prioritise defence. I think that's the right thing because, whether we like it or not, the world is more dangerous than at any moment since the Cold War.'
Pressed to rule out further cuts, the Prime Minister said: 'We have record investment in our public services, including the NHS – that's not going to change, it's going to continue.
'We have record investment in our schools – that's not going to change, it's going to continue to increase. And alongside that we are able to cut people's taxes.'
Without mentioning spending in other areas outside health and education,
