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UK plans to build six weapons factories to bolster military readiness

Plans for £1.5bn investment in munitions manufacturing response to government’s defence review’s call to boost stockpiles

The UK will spend £1.5bn on building six munitions and energetics factories to “better deter our adversaries” as part of its long-awaited strategic defence review.

John Healey, the defence secretary, said the funds formed part of plans for an “always-on” weapons pipeline and would support the procurement of up to 7,000 UK-built long-range weapons.

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© Photograph: Kacper Pempel/Reuters

© Photograph: Kacper Pempel/Reuters

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Labour’s poll ratings have plummeted – so is Starmer’s future in question?

Dissatisfaction among MPs has created a febrile mood, with ambitious cabinet ministers assessing their options

A lesson in comms for any prime minister: when asked whether you will serve another term, try to express some enthusiasm at the prospect.

When at the end of his first term, David Cameron breezily told a reporter he would not serve a third, he inadvertently fired the starting gun for leadership jostling between his potential successors. Keir Starmer fell into the same trap this month when he was asked whether he would fight the next election. “You’re getting way ahead of me,” he said.

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© Photograph: James Speakman/PA

© Photograph: James Speakman/PA

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Ministers consider tweaks to soften welfare cuts before key vote

Disability benefit assessment rules may be relaxed after backlash from more than 100 Labour MPs

Ministers are considering tweaks to soften their controversial welfare cuts before a crunch vote in parliament next month.

The government is examining a potential change that could allow up to 200,000 people to keep their disability benefits by tweaking assessment rules.

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© Photograph: Andy Rain/EPA

© Photograph: Andy Rain/EPA

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Pick-and-mix approach to international law will make UK less secure, says attorney general

Richard Hermer accuses Conservatives of misunderstanding laws that have ‘kept us safe since 1945’

The UK faces “disintegration” and will become “less prosperous and secure” if it takes a pick-and-mix approach to international law, the attorney general has said.

In a speech on Thursday, Richard Hermer launched a defence of international law and multilateral frameworks that he said “have kept us safe since 1945”.

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© Photograph: Victoria Jones/REX/Shutterstock

© Photograph: Victoria Jones/REX/Shutterstock

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