Image source, Reuters

The final question we're bringing you from this Q&A sees Starmer asked if he's concerned about reports that Russia could cause an internet blackout and power outages in the UK by targeting underwater cables? Is enough being done to stop that?

The threats from Russia "take different forms and we are prepared," Starmer says - adding that his government's working with allies to ensure they can protect "all of our infrastructure".

Starmer ends his remarks by thanking the workers at BAE Systems for their efforts. Next up, we'll bring you a recap of the key things we learnt there, so stick around.

Another journalist asks Starmer if he can rule out taking more from the UK's aid budget to reach 3% of GDP on defence spending - a level Starmer has indicated he would like to reach but that he has not committed to.

• As a reminder, earlier this year the government announced defence spending would rise to 2.5% of GDP by 2027, with a cut to the aid budget from 0.5% of GDP to 0.3% in 2027 to pay for it.

Starmer says cutting the aid budget was a "difficult decision", and that the "best way" to deliver any increase in public spending is to grow the economy.

He says "tough" decisions have allowed the government to "stabilise the economy" - that is the way the government will proceed, he says.

Next, GBNews asks Starmer about Ukraine and whether the UK needs to go further and faster with both Britain's support for the nation - as well as Britain's border security.

• On Ukraine, he says "it's fair to say that the UK has been a steadfast ally" to the country since the conflict began in 2022. The UK is "very alert" to the threat of Russia, he adds, and this is why they are putting more money into defence
• On border security, "nobody should be making that journey across the channel", Starmer says, telling those gathered that he's "not up for gimmicks, I'm up for the hard work of working with partners, enhancing the powers that law enforcement have"

Image source, Reuters

Starmer's continuing to be grilled by journalists gathered in Scotland - and we're bringing you the highlights. You can watch the Q&A live at the top of the page.

In a series of questions from Sky's Beth Rigby about whether he's more committed to defence spending or the welfare state, it's put to Starmer that by not committing to spending a higher percentage of GDP on military spending he is not meeting the demands of some in Nato for 3.5%.

Starmer doesn't directly address the questions on welfare, and says the UK's commitment to Nato is "huge" - and that it's his job to ensure the alliance keeps the peace for decades to come.

He's also asked about Gaza, and he says the situation is "intolerable" and getting worse.

He says the government is working with allies, and that there needs to be a ceasefire and more humanitarian aid, and work to secure the release of hostages.

Chris Mason, the BBC's political editor, asks Keir Starmer if he can say with absolute certainty that these plans will be delivered.

The prime minister says he can - and with "100% confidence".

He says this is because his government set out the terms of the defence review on the premise that they would be spending 2.5% of GDP on defence.

Image source, Reuters

Starmer runs through some of the commitments his government is making today:

• To build at least six new munitions factories in the UK
• Create a hybrid Royal Navy, blending drones with warships, submarines and aircraft
• Under Aukus (a partnership with the US and Australia) they will deliver up to 12 attack submarines
• Better housing and equipment for members of the armed forces
• And investing £15bn in the "sovereign warhead programme" - meaning nuclear weapons

And with that, he finishes his speech and moves to questions from the media.

The prime minister now sets out three fundamental goals he wants the defence spending review to achieve:

1. Moving the UK to "war-fighting readiness". This is the "most effective way" to deter aggressors, Starmer says, explaining that they will do this through pay rises and creating a stronger, fully trained reserve
2. "Adding to the strength of Nato". The defence policy will "always be Nato first", Starmer says, adding that the UK hopes to deliver the "biggest contribution to Nato since it was created"
3. His government will "innovate and accelerate innovation at a war-time pace" to meet threats. Starmer says he wants the UK to be the fastest innovator in the alliance.

Image source, Reuters

Starmer begins by speaking about a time he met those working on the UK's nuclear submarines - he says their unofficial motto is "nothing works unless we all work together".

That is the spirit we need, he tells those gathered, saying his government's defence review will bring that unity of purpose to the whole of the UK, to mobilise the nation in a common cause.

Echoing comments he made earlier this morning when he said the world is changing, he says the review will recognise that in these "dangerous times", when it comes to defence nothing works unless we all work together.

Keir Starmer's giving a speech in Scotland now, ahead of his government's defence spending review being published later.

He's due to take questions from journalists afterwards.

We've already heard from the prime minister this morning, and many of the government's plans have been trailed ahead of today, so we have some idea of the key themes he is likely to touch on.

We'll bring you any information we've not yet heard, though, and you can follow along by pressing watch live at the top of the page.

Image source, UK Parliament

We're hearing the first response to Labour's defence spending plans from Kemi Badenoch, leader of the Conservative Party.

In a post on X, she says: "Labour can’t even hold a defence policy together for 48 hours — how can they be trusted to defend Britain?" She adds that the UK is in the "most dangerous era in a generation".

Taking specific aim at the recently signed Chagos deal, where the UK handed over sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, retaining control of a UK-US military base on Diego Garcia, Badenoch says Labour found "billions for the Chagos surrender - but can't commit to properly funding our armed forces".

"Scrap Chagos. Fund defence," Badenoch writes.

During that interview earlier, we heard the BBC's Nick Robinson ask Keir Starmer about his commitment to increase defence spending to 3% of GDP, and we also heard the PM avoid giving a precise date for when that may happen.

The government previously set out an ambition - but not a firm commitment - to reach defence spending of 3% in the next Parliament, so by 2034.

But Lord Dannatt, former head of the British Army, says this should come forward to be at the end of this Parliament - due to end in 2029.

"If we'd said to Hitler in 1938, 'hang on, don't attack us until 1946', well that would have been daft."

If the government believes there is a genuine threat now, he says - adding some military experts say there is a possibility Europe could come under attack from Russia in two to four years time - then the UK has to use this time to "rapidly" increase the capability of the armed forces.

Glenn Campbell
BBC Scotland political editor

Image source, PA Media

Having chosen to announce the strategic defence review in Scotland, the prime minister is seeking to demonstrate that the Labour government he leads can deliver for all corners of the UK.

He will point to the potential for the uplift in defence spending to help support jobs and the economy.

There will be no general objection to that from SNP ministers in the Scottish government.

There will however be a fundamental difference of opinion on the maintenance of the nuclear-armed submarine fleet based at Faslane on the Clyde.

The SNP has long demanded that all nuclear weapons are removed from Scotland and that did not change when the party shifted policy in favour of Scottish membership of Nato in the event of independence.

These issues will be debated afresh today with less than a year to go until the next Holyrood elections and an important by-election to test opinion this Thursday.

• We're expecting the prime minister to make a short speech in Glasgow in the next hour - we'll have coverage on this page

If you're just joining us, here's a recap of what the prime minister told Radio 4's Today programme this morning.

On defence:

• The world has changed and we are entering a new era for defence and security, Starmer said, adding that the UK can't ignore the threat from Russia
• "If you want to deter conflict, then the best way to do that is to prepare for conflict," he said

• Pushed on when the UK will spend 3% of national income on defence, Starmer pointed to his planned increase to 2.5% by 2027 as the highest since the last Labour government
• But he said he couldn't commit to a precise date for 3% - the figure he's said he wants to reach by 2034 - until he can be sure "precisely where the money is coming from"

On a range of other topics:

• He defended the decision to cut winter fuel payments and on the U-turn of that policy, he said: "If we want to look again at which pensioners are eligible, then the sooner we have clarity on that, the better"
• Challenged over the two-child benefit cap, Starmer said he wanted to bring down child poverty - but doesn't believe there is a "silver bullet"
• Pressed on the electoral threat from Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, Starmer called him "Liz Truss 2.0" and claimed the party has a "pro-Russia foreign policy"

Ending on a similar note to where the interview started, Starmer returns to the war in Ukraine, after being asked about its weekend drone attacks on air bases across Russia.

Starmer says the country isn't beaten by Russia, and that it has the "absolute right" to self defence.

Every time he visits Ukraine, Starmer says he is "completely taken by the courage and resilience" that means it is still fighting.

It's a reminder that because of this conflict, Ukraine has become "one of the strongest fighting forces in Europe".

Stay tuned for a round-up of the key lines we heard from Starmer.

Starmer is quizzed now on Nigel Farage's Reform Party, who have led recent opinion polls, and performed strongly in recent local elections in England.

Robinson asks Starmer whether he has "lost his way" by using Farage-style language on immigration and U-turning on benefit cuts.

"Is that why the Labour party is struggling in the polls?" Nick asks.

"No, Nick," Starmer replies.

He again references Liz Truss' mini-budget in 2022, saying Farage is "Liz Truss 2.0".

He adds that Farage's party has a "pro-Russia foreign policy" - saying there couldn't be a "starker distinction" between the two parties.

Image source, PA Media

Next, Starmer is asked about taxes. It's put to him that former UK prime minister Gordon Brown has been advising him to put taxes on gambling and banks.

Starmer says the underlying problem of the last 14 years - under the Conservatives - was that growth was "flat or anaemic".

"If you don't create wealth, you don't have conditions in which you can properly fund your public services, which then collapsed," he says.

"You can't tax yourself to growth and we have got high taxes as it is."

Next on the agenda, the two-child benefit cap.

Starmer says he intends for his government to drive down child poverty. He says there is no silver bullet, but that he is clear in his own mind that that's the goal.

He's then asked who is in his mind's eye when making key decisions.

The working people of this country, Starmer says, attacking the last government for "losing control" of the economy.

He says he will never allow a Labour government to "inflict that" on working people, pensioners or children.

We're now hearing the BBC's Nick Robinson press Stamer on his government's winter fuel cuts policy, with the PM saying "it was right to make that decision" when he took office.

• As a reminder: Starmer's government announced last year that millions of pensions would no longer receive payments of up to £300 to help them pay their energy bills. But last month, following criticism, he announced plans to ease the cuts.

Starmer talks about the £22bn "blackhole" that the previous government left, and says he and his cabinet had to find ways to get that back. But the economy's now been stabilised, he says.

"I want to look again at where the threshold is, that's for sure [on who can claim the payments]."

On when details will be announced, he says: "If we want to look again at which pensioners are eligible, then the sooner we have clarity on that, the better."

What about the "ambition" Starmer has announced to spend 3% of GDP on defence in the next parliament?

Starmer refers first to the commitment to increase defence spending to 2.5% by 2027/28 - he says the last time it was at those levels was also under a Labour government.

The spending review launched today was "premised" on spending going to those levels - so that is "deliverable", Starmer tells the BBC.

He adds that "we need to go on from there", but says he won't set a precise date on the 3% figure.

"Therefore, what you can take from this is - yes - that 3% but I am not, as the prime minister of a Labour Government, going to make a commitment as to the precise date, until I couldn't be sure precisely where the money is coming from, how we can make good on that commitment.

"Because I don't believe in performative fantasy politics, and certainly not on defence and security."

• For context: GDP stands for gross domestic product, and is a measure of all the economic activity of companies, governments, and people in a country. In February, Starmer set out plans to increase defence spending to 2.5% by April 2027, with a "clear ambition" to reach 3% by 2034 - economic conditions allowing.

Next, Starmer says people must understand that the world has changed.

It's put to him that the head of the British Army said last year that we need to prepare to fight a war within three years, so is the inference that - under his premiership - British troops may be sent to fight?

"I very much hope not", Starmer tells the BBC's Nick Robinson - but adds that the country needs to prepare in order to make sure this isn't the case.

He says the "threat of Russia cannot be ignored" and reiterates that the UK needs to be ready and prepared.

"Russia has shown in recent weeks that it's not serious about peace," Starmer adds.