Kemi Badenoch Proposes Welfare Cuts to Increase Defence Spending

Kemi Badenoch, the Conservative leader, has called on Andy Burnham to increase defence spending while proposing cuts to welfare to fund military investments. Badenoch aims to raise defence spending to 3% of GDP by the end of the decade, a target not matched by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. She outlined a £10 billion savings package to support this initiative, which she claims is essential for national security. Chancellor John Healey resigned from his previous role as defence secretary in June due to Labour's lack of commitment to the 3% target, which he argues is necessary for the safety of the UK. Neither Healey nor Burnham have indicated how they would finance an increase in defence spending. Badenoch stated, 'The first duty of every Government is defence and the Conservatives will always put our defence first.' She criticized Burnham for delaying decisions on defence funding, urging him to commit to the 3% target. Burnham responded to criticism from Labour MP Tan Dhesi, who warned that optimism alone would not suffice for national security. While Burnham has made a commitment to a looser target of 3.5% by 2035, Downing Street later clarified this position. Recent threats from Russia have heightened concerns about the UK's military readiness, with reports indicating that UK intelligence believes Russia could attack a NATO country by 2030. Badenoch's proposed cuts to welfare would include reforms to housing benefit and restoring the two-child benefit cap, among other measures. Defence spending is expected to be a significant challenge for Burnham's administration as he navigates these pressures.