SIR KEIR STARMER marked the 80th anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany today by pledging a renewal of militarism.

He lauded forthcoming hikes in arms spending as being a necessity to counter Russia which, as the largest part of the Soviet Union, led the defeat of Hitler in 1945.

Labour is planning to boost military expenditure to 2.5 per cent of gross domestic product almost immediately, at the expense of overseas aid and welfare, potentially rising to 3 per cent in the next parliament.

Mr Starmer suggested the increased arms bill would benefit British industry and jobs and claimed it was making good on promises made by world leaders at the end of the second world war.

It was “an investment in British pride and the British people to build a nation that once again lives up to the promises made to that generation who fought for our values, our freedom and our security,” he said.

Speaking at a London conference of arms dealers and security firms, Sir Keir announced new fighter jet contracts for Rolls-Royce and pledged a “defence dividend” for companies.

Declaring the war in Ukraine "the front line for Western values,” he blamed Moscow for a wide range of woes from utility costs to problems in the NHS. He said: “The British people have already paid a price for Putin’s aggression in Ukraine with rising bills and prices.

“Russia already menaces our security. They’ve launched cyber attacks on our NHS, spread disinformation online and we cannot forget, just a few years ago, a chemical weapons attack on our streets in Salisbury in broad daylight in the heart of England.

“The argument that defines this age is simple: national security is economic security and that’s why we’re boosting defence spending with the largest sustained increase since the Cold War.”

A spokesperson for the Stop the War Coalition said: “Far better to mark this anniversary with a renewed commitment to peace, starting with ending the wars in Gaza and Ukraine.

“Instead Starmer champions continued conflict and an escalating arms bill which the British people will pay for though fresh impoverishment.

“Welfare not warfare should be our demand as we halt the drive to a third world war.”

The government is conducting a strategic defence review which will report shortly. Led by former Nato secretary-general George Robertson, the ”root and branch” analysis is expected to expand the number of designated threats to include China.