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The Defence Spending Dilemma: Building Public Support in an Age of Domestic Challenge - Progressive Britain

Evie Aspinall @evieaspinall.bsky.social · Sep 7

My latest for Progressive Britain is on the challenges of building public support for increasing defence spending and why we need a national conversation around national security. www.progressivebritain.org/the-defence-...

Director of the British Foreign Policy Group Evie Aspinall details how the challenge facing the Government of justifying high defence spending in a time of tight fiscal rules.

www.progressivebritain.org

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Evie Aspinall @evieaspinall.bsky.social · Aug 19

Passionate about foreign policy? Eager to shape the debate on UK foreign policy? I have just the job for you! We're hiring a new Senior Researcher, a brilliant role at the heart of the foreign policy debate in Westminster. Deadline 4th September.

bfpg.co.uk/2025/08/job-...

Job Opportunity: Senior Researcher - British Foreign Policy Group

Come and work at BFPG. We are looking for a a dynamic Senior Researcher to play a key role in delivering our programme of research, events, and engagement.

What could happen if Trump, Putin and Zelensky meet?

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Evie Aspinall @evieaspinall.bsky.social · Aug 8

Great to speak to the Metro yesterday about the implications of the meeting between Trump and Putin (and increasingly unlikely but maybe Zelensky) for the war in Ukraine. Thoughts here - metro.co.uk/2025/08/07/h...

Donald Trump believes a summit next week could help bring the Ukraine war to an end.

metro.co.uk

Reposted by Evie Aspinall

Cassia Rowland @cassiarowland.bsky.social · Jul 28

Great thread from Evie here that drives home the massive impact Trump’s actions have had on British public opinion.

Evie Aspinall @evieaspinall.bsky.social · Jul 28

As Starmer and Trump prepare to meet in Scotland, what does the public think of it all? My latest for BFPG
explores - bfpg.co.uk/2025/07/a-pr.... Key stats from our new public opinion survey in the thread below.

A Pragmatic But Uncomfortable Special Relationship - British Foreign Policy Group

Ahead of President Trump's first visit to the UK of his second term, BFPG Director Evie Aspinall examines the stark evolution of UK‑US relations, as seen by the public.

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Evie Aspinall @evieaspinall.bsky.social · Jul 28

5. This gives Starmer scope over the coming months in his meetings with Trump to continue to work together, even despite public distrust of Trump/the US, to leverage Trump's affinity for the UK for the good of the UK and the world.

Evie Aspinall @evieaspinall.bsky.social · Jul 28

4. Nevertheless, while Brits are eager to shift from over-reliance on the US, only 28% of Britons believe the UK should move further away from the US, with Britons recognising the need for cautious engagement with the US too.

Evie Aspinall @evieaspinall.bsky.social · Jul 28

3. This is largely driven by concern about Trump - more than half of Britons believe his actions are harming the UK economy (53%), and 49% believe he is damaging UK-US relations.

Evie Aspinall @evieaspinall.bsky.social · Jul 28

2. More Brits now distrust (41%) than trust (38%) the US to act responsibly in the world. With trust falling 15 percentage points over the last year alone.

Evie Aspinall @evieaspinall.bsky.social · Jul 28

1. The US' position as the UK's closest ally is increasingly challenged - only 31% of Brits see the US as the UK's closest ally, down from 54% last year.

A Pragmatic But Uncomfortable Special Relationship - British Foreign Policy Group

Evie Aspinall @evieaspinall.bsky.social · Jul 28

As Starmer and Trump prepare to meet in Scotland, what does the public think of it all? My latest for BFPG
explores - bfpg.co.uk/2025/07/a-pr.... Key stats from our new public opinion survey in the thread below.

Ahead of President Trump's first visit to the UK of his second term, BFPG Director Evie Aspinall examines the stark evolution of UK‑US relations, as seen by the public.

Reposted by Evie Aspinall

Ian Mitchell @ianmitchell1.bsky.social · Jul 17

New survey: Brits think that the UK's new aid budget is too low.

One of many interesting findings in the BFPG survey.

Evie Aspinall @evieaspinall.bsky.social · Jul 17

10. Only 18% of Britons support spending 0.7% of GNI or more on international development. However, more Britons believe the UK’s aid spend target should be higher than 0.3% of GNI (38%) than believe it should be lower (34%), suggesting some room to increase spending about 0.3%.

BFPG's 2025 Annual Survey of UK Public Opinion on Foreign Policy and Global Affairs - British Foreign Policy Group

Reposted by Evie Aspinall

Chris Wilkins @mrchriswilkins.bsky.social · Jul 18

It was really good to attend this report launch yesterday. Lots of rich insight into the British public’s approach to foreign policy. The shift in focus to the EU relationship is particularly notable but other key insights below…

Evie Aspinall @evieaspinall.bsky.social · Jul 17

Delighted to release BFPG’s 2025 Annual Public Opinion Survey. The survey highlights a watershed moment in UK foreign policy, as Britons turn their back on the ‘Special Relationship’ and pivot dramatically back to Europe. Here are 10 key findings. Full report here - bfpg.co.uk/2025/07/2025...

BFPG's 2025 Annual Survey of Public Opinion on Foreign Policy finds that public trust in the US has plummeted, as Britons turn back towards Europe.

BFPG's 2025 Annual Survey of UK Public Opinion on Foreign Policy and Global Affairs - British Foreign Policy Group

Evie Aspinall @evieaspinall.bsky.social · Jul 17

The full report is full of findings on everything from free trade to international development, China and trust in Government. Read the full report: bfpg.co.uk/2025/07/2025...

BFPG's 2025 Annual Survey of Public Opinion on Foreign Policy finds that public trust in the US has plummeted, as Britons turn back towards Europe.

Evie Aspinall @evieaspinall.bsky.social · Jul 17

10. Only 18% of Britons support spending 0.7% of GNI or more on international development. However, more Britons believe the UK’s aid spend target should be higher than 0.3% of GNI (38%) than believe it should be lower (34%), suggesting some room to increase spending about 0.3%.

Evie Aspinall @evieaspinall.bsky.social · Jul 17

9. Britons are widely convinced of the benefits of free trade which they believe positively impacts the UK as a whole (71%), them and their families (51%) and their local area (47%). The UK-US (57%) and the UK-India trade deals (53%) are also supported by the majority of Britons.

Evie Aspinall @evieaspinall.bsky.social · Jul 17

8. Generational divides also exist around China - 81% of over-66s distrust China vs 41% of 18-25-year-olds. Younger Britons are also more supportive of cooperation e.g. 61% of 18-25-year-olds support Chinese tech companies operating in the UK vs 12% of over-66s.

Evie Aspinall @evieaspinall.bsky.social · Jul 17

7. There is a growing foreign policy disconnect across generations, especially around Ukraine. Only 25% of 18-25-year-olds view continued Russian aggression as a top threat to the UK, compared to 60% of over-66s.

Evie Aspinall @evieaspinall.bsky.social · Jul 17

6. While 71% of Britons support increasing defence spending, they widely oppose defence spending increases if it requires cuts to the NHS (60%), education (47%) or welfare (46%).

Evie Aspinall @evieaspinall.bsky.social · Jul 17

5. Even among Leave voters, there is growing support for closer cooperation - 78% support the UK-EU Summit agreement to strengthen defence and security cooperation and 70% support the agreement to reduce trade barriers around food and drink.

Evie Aspinall @evieaspinall.bsky.social · Jul 17

4. 62% of Britons believe the UK should move closer to the EU in response to President Trump’s actions. There is strong support for the UK-EU Summit, especially agreements to strengthen cooperation on defence and security (83%) and reducing barriers to food and drink trade (79%).

Evie Aspinall @evieaspinall.bsky.social · Jul 17

3. Britons believe President Trump is negatively affecting the UK economy (53%) and UK-US relations (49%). In turn, trust in the US has plummeted over the last year, from 53% to 38%, with more Britons now distrusting (41%) than trusting the US.

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Evie Aspinall @evieaspinall.bsky.social · Jul 17

2. Britons most widely believe the top foreign policy priorities should be strengthening relations with the EU (45%), tackling the root causes of irregular migration (40%) and securing free trade agreements (38%). Assisting dev.g nations comes last (13%).

Evie Aspinall @evieaspinall.bsky.social · Jul 17

1. At 83%, more Britons are interested in foreign policy than at any other point since we began polling on this in 2020, as the proliferation of global crises spikes Britons’ interest in foreign policy.

BFPG's 2025 Annual Survey of UK Public Opinion on Foreign Policy and Global Affairs - British Foreign Policy Group

Evie Aspinall @evieaspinall.bsky.social · Jul 17

Delighted to release BFPG’s 2025 Annual Public Opinion Survey. The survey highlights a watershed moment in UK foreign policy, as Britons turn their back on the ‘Special Relationship’ and pivot dramatically back to Europe. Here are 10 key findings. Full report here - bfpg.co.uk/2025/07/2025...

BFPG's 2025 Annual Survey of Public Opinion on Foreign Policy finds that public trust in the US has plummeted, as Britons turn back towards Europe.