In a fiery PMQs, Keir Starmer accused Kemi Badenoch of declaring herself chief guardian of Western civilisation.
Wednesday’s Commons debate kicked off with Starmer’s jibes. He said Badenoch had appointed herself a role she never applied for.
On Tuesday, Starmer announced plans to redirect international aid to increase military spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027.
That’s an extra £13.4 billion.
He told Parliament just before he flew to Washington to meet Donald Trump.
Starmer said the increase was crucial as the US was negotiating with Russia over Ukraine. He added the UK aid budget would fall from 0.5% to 0.3% of gross national income by 2027, to fully fund the defence spending.
Kemi Badenoch wasn’t having it. She questioned the numbers, pointing out Defence Secretary John Healey said the figure could be more like £6 billion once inflation was taken into account.
She also asked if any of the new funding would go to the controversial Chagos Islands deal.
Starmer defended his strategy by saying the defence boost was to strengthen UK security in Europe. He said the Chagos deal was good for British and US security interests.
By comparing this year’s figures to 2027-28, Starmer said the £13.4 billion was the biggest increase in defence spending since the Cold War.
He said this would put the UK in a position to protect national and European security in an uncertain world.
When Badenoch suggested Starmer had taken her idea for using international aid for defence, he laughed and said he hadn’t even looked at it as he had a busy weekend.
Starmer ended by saying Badenoch was declaring herself saviour of Western civilisation in a desperate bid for relevance.
This Commons row shows the intensity of the debate on defence spending and aid allocation.
It illuminates the challenges the UK faces in balancing its fiscal priorities with its changing geo-political responsibilities.Experts say this is a big pivot. Data shows defence spending has never grown like this since the post-war.