Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch and outgoing UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer clashed over defence policy during Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQs) following the publication of the government’s long-delayed Defence Investment Plan.
Badenoch described the government’s proposals as “too weak, too little, and too late”, arguing that the UK needed a funding plan that “meets this moment”. She said “the money must be found”, suggesting additional defence spending should be funded through reductions in welfare expenditure.
Responding, Starmer rejected the criticism, accusing the previous Conservative government of having “hollowed out the armed forces”. He said his government was “correcting” that legacy, while pointing to improvements in the economy, NHS waiting lists and Britain’s international standing on defence and security.
The exchange came a day after the government unveiled its £298 billion Defence Investment Plan, which includes an additional £15 billion for military equipment, AI, drones, munitions, nuclear programmes and defence infrastructure over the next four years, with the aim of strengthening the Armed Forces, increasing defence spending to 2.7% of GDP by 2029 and supporting thousands of jobs across the UK.
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