Politics latest: £28bn black hole to be addressed in long-awaited defence investment plan as one of Starmer’s final acts

Sir Keir Starmer is set to announce an extra £1bn to fund Britain’s defence in what will be one of his last acts as prime minister.

His defence investment plan (DIP) has been at the centre of a fierce political row, which saw defence minister John Healey quit in protest after arguing it did not provide enough money to keep Britain safe from growing threats.

But the prime minister is expected to press on with announcing the DIP on Tuesday, despite concerns it may be ripped up by Andy Burnham, who looks set to take on the premiership next month.

In a speech at a defence firm, Sir Keir will set out how the DIP will accelerate Britain’s drone capabilities, as wars in both Ukraine and Iran have seen widespread use of the warfighting robots.

Speaking ahead of the launch, the prime minister said: “Today’s defence investment plan will help drive growth across the UK, giving our industrial base the confidence, certainty and support it needs to develop and scale the technologies that will keep our country safe and secure long into the future.”