What budget challenges is the UK government facing under Prime Minister Keith Starmer?

UK government departments are preparing for significant budget cuts of up to 11% as Prime Minister Keith Starmer navigates fiscal challenges. These substantial reductions come at a time when Starmer faces mounting pressure to allocate more financial resources toward defense spending. The situation highlights the difficult balancing act the UK government must manage between maintaining public services and addressing national security priorities in the current geopolitical climate. This budget tightening represents one of the early major challenges for Starmer's administration.