Uncovered documents from Sir Keir Starmer's socialist past reveal that he once signed a resolution calling for "Britain and other capitalist countries" to disarm.
His past comments stand in stark contrast with his latest policy announcement at the Nato summit, where he has committed the UK to buying at least a dozen F-35A fighter jets capable of carrying tactical nuclear weapons.
Downing Street says it is “the biggest strengthening of the UK’s nuclear posture in a generation” as war grinds on in Ukraine and the Israel-Iran war threatens regional stability in the Middle East.
It marks a radical departure from Britain’s nuclear posture since the end of the Cold War and is firmly at odds with many on the left of his party, who have long called for disarmament.
You do not have to reach far back to find examples of leftist opposition. Take former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn - a longtime opponent of Trident, the UK's submarine-based nuclear missile system.
When Starmer was Secretary of the Haldane Society of Socialist Lawyers, the group passed a resolution calling on "Britain and other capitalist countries" to disarm
Despite Starmer's latest commitment to nuclear deterrence, an unearthed document suggests there was once not much daylight between him and Corbyn.
A left-wing pamphlet previously obtained by Express.co.uk shows that, during his late 20s, when Starmer was Secretary of the Haldane Society of Socialist Lawyers, the group passed a resolution calling on "Britain and other capitalist countries" to disarm.
It added that the Labour Party should "adopt a non-nuclear, non-aligned defence policy as the precondition for the preservation and extension of human rights".
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The motion, in effect, called on Britain to scrap its nuclear deterrence.
The group claimed the policy was "key to victory at the next general election".
Despite Starmer's previous calls for disarmament, his Government has increased defence spending from £56.9billion in 2024/25 to £59.8billion in 2025/26.
In the Spring Statement 2025, the Government announced a £2.2billion uplift to the Ministry of Defence budget for 2025/26.
Despite his previous position, Starmer has committed to spending five per cent of GDP on national security
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At the Nato summit, Starmer committed to spending five per cent of GDP on national security.
He said: "We must navigate this era of radical uncertainty with agility, speed and a clear-eyed sense of the national interest to deliver security for working people and keep them safe.
"That's why I have made the commitment to spend five per cent of GDP on national security. This is an opportunity to deepen our commitment to NATO and drive greater investment in the nation's wider security and resilience.
"After all, economic security is national security, and through this strategy we will bring the whole of society with us, creating jobs, growth and wages for working people - guided by my Plan for Change."
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