Parliament Breaks for Easter as Starmer Faces Grilling on Defence Spending and Iran

The Commons rose Thursday and the Lords follow Friday. Both return on April 13. But before MPs left, the PM sat through a bruising Liaison Committee session dominated by defence spending, Iran, and the cost of living crisis.

Parliament has broken for the Easter recess with the Commons rising on Thursday and the Lords following on Friday. Both chambers will return on April 13 — assuming the world hasn't changed so much in the intervening fortnight that an emergency recall becomes necessary, which at this point nobody is willing to rule out.

The final parliamentary business of the term was dominated by the Prime Minister's appearance before the Liaison Committee, a panel of select committee chairs that meets roughly quarterly to grill the PM in extended session. It was, by common consent, Starmer's most uncomfortable appearance yet.

Defence Spending: The Question That Won't Go Away

The centrepiece of the session was defence spending. Committee chairs pressed Starmer repeatedly on the timeline for reaching the NATO target of 2.5% of GDP. The PM repeated the government's position that spending would increase "as fiscal circumstances allow" and that the Strategic Defence Review, due in the summer, would set out the path.

This did not satisfy anyone. Defence Committee chair Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi pointed out that the Iran conflict had exposed critical gaps in naval capability and asked whether the government would commit to a supplementary defence estimate before the summer. Starmer declined to give a direct answer, saying only that the MoD was "assessing all requirements in light of current events."

Iran: No Exit Strategy Visible

Foreign Affairs Committee chair Emily Sherwin asked the PM what Britain's objectives were in the Iran conflict and what success would look like. Starmer said the UK's goals were "de-escalation, the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, and a return to diplomatic engagement." When pressed on whether those goals were achievable while the United States continued military operations, Starmer said he had "full confidence in our alliance" and that he spoke to President Trump "regularly."

The exchange highlighted a fundamental tension in the UK's position. Britain is diplomatically aligned with the US, has offered to host an international summit on Hormuz, and has intelligence assets in the region. But it is not a direct combatant, has limited leverage over Washington, and is bearing the economic costs of a conflict it did not start and cannot stop.

Cost of Living: The Domestic Dimension

Treasury Committee chair Harriett Baldwin turned the questioning to the economy, pressing on the BRC consumer confidence figure of -53 published earlier this week — the worst on record. Starmer acknowledged the number was "deeply concerning" and pointed to the energy bill support package announced in February as evidence the government was acting.

Baldwin noted that the support package covered only the first quarter and asked what happens when the current price cap expires in July. Starmer said the Chancellor was "looking at all options" but would not commit to an extension or expansion of the scheme. MPs from both sides have been calling for a more generous intervention as energy bills are forecast to rise by 20% in the summer.

Recess Politics

Parliament will be dark for two and a half weeks. In that time, Trump's extended strike pause will either expire or be renewed. The OECD's grim forecasts will filter through to business confidence surveys. And Starmer's government will have to decide whether to bring forward emergency economic measures or wait for the summer statement.

The recess is supposed to be a break. It will not feel like one.