THE Labour government’s “shameful” calls for Europe to ramp up military spending as the Russia-Ukraine war enters its fourth year tomorrow have been branded a betrayal of the working class.

Stop the War Coalition convener Lindsey German blasted  warmongering ministers today as Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer addressed the Scottish Labour conference, saying: “What I have seen only makes me more determined to stand up for Ukraine.” 

The government has sought to position itself between the US and Europe after President Donald Trump began peace talks with Russia without involving Ukraine or European states, and demanded other Nato members massively hike military spending.

With Sir Keir expected to confirm a timeline to boost defence spending in a trip to the US this week, Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson today urged other allies to “step up alongside” Britain’s commitment to raise spending from the current 2.3 per cent to 2.5 of gross domestic product.

She went on to suggest that Britain needs to go further than the 2.5 per cent target, adding: “It’s not enough, we do need to go further, we recognise that.”

Ms German told the Morning Star: “The demands for higher spending on the military are indefensible.

“Britain already spends one of the highest amounts in Europe.

“The escalation in arms spending worldwide has not made the world safer or more secure, but has only escalated an arms race where working-class people of all countries will be the losers.

“The Starmer government will bend the fiscal rules to finance this spending but refuses to do anything to fund crumbling public services or nationalise failing industries like Thames Water.

“Sending arms to fund the war in Ukraine has been a failure and has fuelled this process.

“The dangers of nuclear escalation are still there. We need peace, not war.

“It is shameful that a Labour government is leading the way across Europe for the opposite.”

Fears of nuclear escalation were heightened over the weekend after placards calling for nuclear weapons to be sent to Ukraine were seen as crowds protested against the war outside the Russian embassy in London on Saturday.

Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament general secretary Sophie Bolt said the sight of protesters calling for Ukraine to become a nuclear-armed state is shocking, adding: “It reflects the aggressive approach of Nato that the continued escalation of greater and more lethal weaponry for Ukraine would secure peace. Deploying nuclear weapons on Russia’s borders would threaten the entire region.

“Bankrupting Europe and Britain in order to double military spending won’t bring security for Ukraine, Europe or Britain. On the contrary.

“The £205 billion that Europe has pledged to Ukraine since 2022 has contributed to prolonging this terrible conflict, sustaining the huge death toll and pushing the region to the brink of nuclear war.”

She said European leaders have rejected Sir Keir’s plans to deploy so-called peace-keeping troops in Ukraine to maintain a ceasefire, due to the risks of an outright confrontation with Russia.

Ms Bolt warned that spending billions on European missiles and nuclear weapons “will play into Trump’s hands” as his administration plans to further pivot the US’s military and nuclear might towards China.

“Instead of vying for Trump’s approval over which Nato state can increase its military spending highest, Britain and Europe could use this opportunity to reshape the region’s security approach towards one that is genuinely sustainable and secure,” she said.

Speaking at the Scottish Labour conference in Glasgow, Sir Keir said talks about ending the war in Ukraine must not take place without Kiev at the table.

The US and Russia have kickstarted negotiations without inviting Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky, just as last year’s Ukraine-backed Switzerland summit on ending the war did not invite Russia.

He said: “Nobody wants the bloodshed to continue, least of all the Ukrainians.

“I’ve seen first-hand the devastation [Russian President Vladimir] Putin has caused.

“Mark my words — what I have seen only makes me more determined to stand up for Ukraine.”

The Peace Pledge Union  (PPU) has meanwhile blasted ministers’ calls to increase military spending after a coroner heavily criticised the army following 19-year-old Jaysley Beck’s suicide.

PPU’s operations manager Amy Corcoran said: “If any other institution had seen numerous reports of rape and sexual assault within the space of a few years, it would be subject to major investigation and serious repercussions.

“Instead, military chiefs continue to pretend these are isolated incidents, and the government rewards the armed forces with huge increases in public spending.”

The Lib Dems on Friday called for cross-party talks on how Britain can increase defence spending by £20bn a year, to 3 per cent of national income.