Kemi Badenoch has launched a scathing attack on Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, accusing him of engaging in empty posturing on the global stage regarding the Middle East war while failing to deliver a concrete plan to rearm Britain. The Conservative leader branded the Prime Minister as 'all mouth and no trousers' on defence matters, criticising his diplomatic efforts in the Gulf region despite having no involvement in the ceasefire negotiations between the United States and Iran.
Defence Investment Plan Delays
Badenoch claimed that the government has still not published a long-overdue Defence Investment Plan, which was initially promised last autumn. She asserted that this delay stems from a lack of clarity on how to finance the target of spending 3 per cent of GDP on defence by the next Parliament. 'We haven't seen the Defence Investment Plan because they have no idea how they are going to pay for it,' she stated, emphasising the urgency of the situation amid ongoing conflicts in Europe and the Middle East.
Funding Proposals and Criticisms
In a speech scheduled for the upcoming London Defence Conference, Badenoch will outline Conservative plans to reinstate the two-child benefit cap—recently lifted by Labour—to fund increased defence spending. Additionally, the Tories propose redirecting £17 billion from what they label as Ed Miliband's 'vanity' green projects to establish a Sovereign Defence Fund. She warned that rearming Britain cannot wait until after the election and called on the Prime Minister to 'put party interests aside' and secure the necessary funding immediately.
Defence Minister Luke Pollard responded sharply, accusing the previous Tory government of hollowing out and underfunding the Armed Forces. 'Badenoch should start with an apology for the mess they left behind, instead of taking pot shots,' he retorted, highlighting ongoing tensions over defence policy.
Diplomatic Efforts and Backlash
Meanwhile, Sir Keir Starmer, during a trip to Saudi Arabia, insisted that the UK's diplomatic initiatives are crucial in resolving the Middle East crisis. He met with UK troops at King Fahd Air Base in Taif, emphasising efforts to make the fragile truce permanent and reopen the vital Strait of Hormuz to shipping. 'We've been convening a number of countries to co-ordinate our actions,' the Prime Minister told broadcasters, defending his focus on national interest amid criticism from US President Donald Trump.
Political Reactions and Concerns
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage predicted that Starmer's diplomatic trip would backfire, citing strained relations with the US, Cyprus, and Gulf states. Tory peer Lord Kempsell added that the Prime Minister had no role in brokering the US-Iran ceasefire, questioning the effectiveness of his Middle East engagement. Labour MP Tan Dhesi, who chairs the Defence Select Committee, warned that the absence of a public defence plan risks undermining the UK's leadership role in NATO, especially with the Defence Investment Plan unlikely to appear before May's elections due to purdah restrictions.
The row underscores deepening divisions over defence strategy, with Badenoch urging immediate action and Starmer prioritising diplomatic outreach, as both sides clash over funding and priorities in a volatile global landscape.
