Kemi Badenoch accused the government of prioritizing 'benefits over bullets' and called it a 'national scandal' that plans on how to raise money for defence have not been published. She said the government is 'woefully unprepared' to defend the UK and has 'no plan' to defend Britain. Badenoch warned the UK displayed a 'shocking lack of readiness' in its response to the Iran war and had to rely on the French. Badenoch said the war in the Gulf 'must act as a wake-up call'.
Badenoch said the government's spending plans to enact its Strategic Defence Review, promised last autumn, are still nowhere to be seen. She said the reason there is no plan is because the government has no idea how to pay for it. Badenoch branded Labour 'weak' for putting welfare over defence after the OBR confirmed welfare spending is set to rise by £74 billion over five years. She said Keir Starmer has not published a long-overdue Defence Investment Plan because he had 'no idea' how to pay for spending 3% of GDP on defence.
We have grown fat on welfare, prioritising benefits over bullets. Britain has overspent the peace dividend that followed the Cold War and politicians of all colours as well as the electorate, prioritised day-to-day concerns over defence.
Badenoch branded Keir Starmer 'weak, weak, weak' on Iran, China, and national security. She said when British bases are attacked, Keir Starmer relies on other countries to disable missile sites. Badenoch accused Keir Starmer of 'catching arrows rather than stopping the archer' in response to the Iran crisis. She said when China demands a new Super Embassy spy hub in London, Keir Starmer folds.
Badenoch called for the largest peacetime rearmament programme in British history. She pledged the largest net increase in British troops under any government since World War 2, including 6,000 regular soldiers and 14,000 reservists. Badenoch said a future Conservative Government would reinstate the two-child benefit cap and take £17 billion from green projects to fund increased defence spending. She called on Britain to 'act decisively' and show willingness to 'get our hands dirty' on the armed forces.
It was promised last autumn and now we are hearing that it won't be published until next autumn. This is national scandal.
Keir Starmer's Government has pledged to spend 2.5% of GDP on core defence by 2027, rising to 3% in the next parliament. Keir Starmer said he initially refused to grant the US permission to use the Diego Garcia base and send military equipment unless satisfied there was a thoughtful plan. He said the UK is taking action with planes intercepting strikes, deploying more capability to Cyprus, and allowing US planes to use UK bases.
Labour Defence Minister Luke Pollard warned Britain would be 'in a war without a plan' under the Tories over their backing of US/Israeli military action in Iran. Pollard said the Tories hollowed out Britain's defences. Pollard said Keir Starmer made the right call in ensuring Britain would not be drawn into offensive action while supporting allies.
I am not here to lie to you. We are not ready. At a time of war in Europe and a time of war in the Middle East and at a time when these conflicts are affecting every family across Britain, at a time when Britain's place in the world is in flux, our government literally does not have a plan.
Conservative Shadow Defence Secretary James Cartlidge slammed the Labour Government for 'prioritising welfare spending over defence spending'.
Border Security and Asylum Minister Alex Norris said the UK has been building up defensive capacity and is defending Britain's interests during the conflict.
Keir Starmer has been weak on Iran, weak on China, weak on our national security.
RAF Akrotiri, a British air base on Cyprus, was hit by a drone attack on Sunday.
The Royal Navy's guided-missile destroyer HMS Dragon may not reach Cyprus for two weeks. HMS Dragon has been tasked with sailing to the eastern Mediterranean after RAF Akrotiri was hit by a drone attack on Sunday. HMS Dragon is stuck in Portsmouth due to maintenance problems.
When British bases are being attacked, he relies on other countries to disable the missile sites firing at us.
Defence Secretary John Healey arrived in Cyprus to calm tensions after anger that the UK is not doing more to protect British bases.
Real-terms defence spending under the Tories fell by 22% by 2016/17.
When China demands a new Super Embassy spy hub in the City of London in return for investment from Beijing, he folds.
Badenoch expressed dismay at Donald Trump's recent social media remarks, saying some of his posts and comments have dismayed her. She said Keir Starmer is 'all mouth and no trousers' and called for the defence investment plan to be published next week.
The partner of Labour MP Joani Reid was arrested on suspicion of spying for China. Two other men were arrested on suspicion of assisting Chinese intelligence. Campaigners have lodged a legal challenge against the decision to allow China to build a super-embassy in London.
Paul, I don't quite accept that. We've been building up our defensive capacity; we've been very clear that we're going to defend Britain's interests during this conflict. We've stood up, whether it's our RADAR systems, our air defence systems, our F-35s.
This political clash occurs against a backdrop of unresolved questions about the UK's defence capabilities and foreign threats. The effectiveness of UK defensive measures like RADAR and F-35s in intercepting Middle Eastern attacks has not been detailed publicly. The status of ceasefire talks between the US and Iran, and the UK's role in them, remains uncertain. The fundamental dispute over whether the UK government is unprepared or actively building capacity reflects deeper divisions about national security strategy. Similarly, the blame game over defence underfunding—whether due to Tory cuts or Labour's welfare priorities—shapes voter perceptions ahead of potential elections.
This disastrous episode of our lack of preparation for war in the Gulf must act as a wakeup call.
This is a national scandal. There's no plan for rearming Britain.
Kemi Badenoch's message is: the Tories hollowed out Britain's defences, now put us back in charge. Nobody will take that seriously.
If she were Prime Minister today, Britain would now be in a war without a plan. She wanted to rush in without thinking about the consequences.
We need to act with clarity, purpose and with a cool head. The protection of UK nationals is our number one priority.
Iran is trying to kill our servicemen and women. He is catching arrows rather than stopping the archer.