Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer and Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch engaged in a fiery debate over defence spending during a parliamentary session on Wednesday, highlighting the growing political divide over the UK’s military priorities.
The clash came as the government faces mounting pressure to increase defence funding amid rising global tensions, including the ongoing war in Ukraine and escalating conflicts in the Middle East. Starmer accused the Conservative government of failing to meet its NATO commitment to spend 2% of GDP on defence, calling it a “dereliction of duty” at a time when global security threats are intensifying.
“The world is becoming more dangerous by the day, and yet this government continues to underfund our armed forces,” Starmer said. “Our military personnel are being asked to do more with less, and that is simply unacceptable. Labour is committed to ensuring our defence spending meets the challenges of the 21st century.”
Badenoch, however, hit back, defending the government’s record and accusing Starmer of “playing politics with national security.” She argued that the UK remains one of the top defence spenders in NATO and highlighted recent investments in modernizing the armed forces.
“This government has consistently prioritized defence, ensuring our military is equipped to face evolving threats,” Badenoch said. “Labour’s criticism is not only misleading but also hypocritical, given their history of underfunding defence when in power.”
The exchange underscored the deepening political rift over how best to allocate resources in an era of economic uncertainty and heightened security risks. With a general election looming, defence spending is expected to become a key battleground issue, as both parties seek to position themselves as the strongest advocates for national security.
Defence analysts have warned that the UK’s military capabilities are under strain, with aging equipment and recruitment challenges exacerbating the problem. The debate over funding comes as NATO allies urge member states to increase their defence budgets in response to growing threats from Russia and other adversarial powers.
As the war of words between Starmer and Badenoch continues, the question of how to balance fiscal responsibility with national security remains unresolved.
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