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, according to major media reports. She said the government is 'woefully unprepared' to defend the UK and has 'no plan' to defend Britain, and stated, 'I am not here to lie to you. We are not ready.' Badenoch argued that Britain has overspent the peace dividend that followed the Cold War, with politicians and the electorate prioritizing day-to-day concerns over defence.
Badenoch specifically warned that Keir Starmer still hasn't published a long-overdue Defence Investment Plan because he had 'no idea' how to pay for his target of spending 3% of GDP on defence by the next Parliament, according to major media reports. She said the government's spending plans to enact its Strategic Defence Review, promised last autumn, have not been published, and criticized the delay, stating, 'It was promised last autumn and now we are hearing that it won't be published until next autumn. This is national scandal.' Badenoch also said Keir Starmer is 'all mouth and no trousers' as she called for the long-delayed defence investment plan to be published next week.
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.
In response, Badenoch called for the 'biggest peacetime programme of rearmament in our history' and pledged 'the largest net increase in British troops under any government since the Second World War' if the Conservatives return to power. She proposed specific funding mechanisms, stating that a future Conservative Government would reinstate the two-child benefit cap, which Labour has lifted, to fund increased defence spending. Furthermore, Badenoch said the Tories would take £17 billion from Ed Miliband's 'vanity' green projects to create a Sovereign Defence Fund, according to major media reports.
Badenoch also launched attacks on Labour's foreign policy and defence stance. According to Daily Express - Main, Kemi Badenoch described Keir Starmer as weak on Iran, weak on China, and weak on national security. She accused Keir Starmer of 'catching arrows rather than stopping the archer' in response to the crisis in Iran, and branded Labour 'weak' for putting welfare over defence after the Office for Budget Responsibility confirmed spending on welfare, including pensions, is set to rise by £74billion over the next five years. Badenoch called on Britain to 'act decisively' and said the UK would have to 'show we are willing to get our hands dirty' on the armed forces, according to major media reports.
It was promised last autumn and now we are hearing that it won't be published until next autumn. This is national scandal.
The political debate unfolds against the backdrop of the UK's recent defence spending patterns. Keir Starmer's Government has pledged to spend 2.5% of gross domestic product (GDP) on core defence by 2027, rising to 3% in the next parliament. However, real-terms defence spending varied under the Tories between 2010 and 2024, falling by 22% by 2016/17. Badenoch claimed the UK spends '£1 in every £3 on welfare', according to major media reports, highlighting her argument about budgetary priorities.
Labour has defended its position and responded to Conservative criticism. Luke Pollard said, 'Keir Starmer made the right call in ensuring that Britain would not be drawn into offensive action, while supporting our allies in the region.' Keir Starmer said he initially refused to grant the United States permission to use the Diego Garcia military base on the Chagos Islands and send military equipment to the Middle East 'unless I was satisfied there was a thoughtful basis and thorough plan'. Starmer also emphasized, 'We need to act with clarity, purpose and with a cool head. The protection of UK nationals is our number one priority.'
I am not here to lie to you. We are not ready.
Labour counterattacked on the Conservative defence record. 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, according to major media reports. He stated, '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. That tells you everything you need to know about her judgement on defence and foreign policy. And paying for more troops by plunging children into poverty is not a credible plan.'
The government has pushed back on readiness concerns. According to Daily Express - Showbiz, Alex Norris described that the UK has been building up its defensive capacity and is defending Britain's interests during the conflict, highlighting actions such as deploying RADAR systems, air defence systems, and F-35s. This statement directly contradicts Badenoch's claims of unpreparedness, framing a fundamental debate over the UK's military readiness and the government's response to current conflicts.
Keir Starmer has been weak on Iran, weak on China, weak on our national security.
Immediate security developments have added urgency to the debate. The Royal Navy's guided-missile destroyer, HMS Dragon, has been tasked with sailing to the eastern Mediterranean after RAF Akrotiri, a British air base on Cyprus, was hit by a drone attack on Sunday, according to major media reports. However, HMS Dragon may not reach Cyprus for two weeks. In response, Defence Secretary John Healey arrived in Cyprus in a bid to calm tensions, according to major media reports.
China-related security concerns have also emerged domestically. The partner of a Labour MP was arrested today on suspicion of spying for China, and two other men were arrested on suspicion of assisting Chinese intelligence, according to major media reports. Campaigners have stepped up attempts to reverse the decision over a controversial Chinese super-embassy being built in London. According to Daily Express - Main, Kemi Badenoch described that when China demands a new Super Embassy spy hub in the City of London in return for investment from Beijing, Keir Starmer folds.
When British bases are being attacked, he relies on other countries to disable the missile sites firing at us. When China demands a new Super Embassy spy hub in the City of London in return for investment from Beijing, he folds.
International dimensions further complicate the security landscape. Kemi Badenoch said the UK had to rely on the French for bailin in its response to the Iran war, according to major media reports. She also expressed dismay at Donald Trump's recent social media remarks, according to major media reports, though the specifics of those remarks were not detailed in the available claims.
The political battle over defence funding and priorities is intensifying as elections approach. Badenoch's call for rearmament and troop increases contrasts with Labour's emphasis on cautious, planned responses and existing spending commitments. The dispute over which party is responsible for defence underfunding—with Labour accusing the Tories of hollowing out defences and Badenoch blaming the current government for lacking a plan—reflects deep political divisions that will influence voter perceptions.
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. Your viewers will have seen the impact that has had in recent days in keeping our interests safe, whether that's in the air or on targets on the ground.
Key unanswered questions remain about defence plans and operations. The specific measures in the delayed Defence Investment Plan and its exact publication date are unclear, as is the current operational status and timeline for HMS Dragon's deployment to Cyprus. Evidence supporting the allegations of spying for China against the arrested individuals has not been disclosed, and it is unknown how the UK will balance increased defence spending with welfare and other budgetary priorities. The extent of French assistance to the UK in the Iran war response, as mentioned by Badenoch, also remains unspecified.
This disastrous episode of our lack of preparation for war in the Gulf must act as a wakeup call. Not for navel gazing and finger pointing, but for action.
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. That tells you everything you need to know about her judgement on defence and foreign policy. And paying for more troops by plunging children into poverty is not a credible plan.
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. I say to Labour MPs: We are in this war whether we like it or not.