A push to rearm Britain against Russia is running into the question of who pays, and the answer being floated is welfare — bad news for people on benefits and pensions.

• Support is growing in the UK for a bigger military, even though almost no one wants an actual war with Russia.
• Britain's army is tiny next to Russia's, so building it up would mean many more soldiers and far more money.
• The money would come from the welfare budget, which is heading toward £400 billion a year.
• That means cutting payments to people out of work and some pensions to pay for weapons.

Outlook: Expect the rearmament push to turn into a fight over benefit cuts rather than a debate about Russia itself.