Kemi Badenoch Condemns Government's Defence Funding Delays as 'National Scandal'
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has launched a scathing attack on the government, accusing it of prioritising 'benefits over bullets' and labelling the failure to publish defence funding plans a 'national scandal'. In a hard-hitting speech delivered at the London Defence Conference, Badenoch argued that Britain has become 'woefully unprepared' to defend itself amidst escalating global conflicts.
'We Have Grown Fat on Welfare'
Badenoch stated that Britain has 'overspent the peace dividend' following the Cold War, with politicians and the electorate alike focusing on day-to-day concerns rather than national defence. She highlighted that the UK now spends '£1 in every £3 on welfare', echoing US President Donald Trump's criticism that European nations allocate excessive funds to social systems instead of military readiness.
'Instead of subsidising the defence of Europe, we built welfare systems instead,' Badenoch declared. 'They ignored evidence that this era of peace would not go on forever. They looked away from Georgia, Crimea, hoping they were anomalies then Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. That was the moment we couldn't ignore.'
Delayed Strategic Defence Review
The Conservative leader criticised the government for failing to deliver its promised Strategic Defence Review, which was initially slated for publication last autumn. Badenoch revealed that plans have now been postponed until next autumn, describing this delay as unacceptable given current geopolitical tensions.
'It was promised last autumn and now we are hearing that it won't be published until next autumn. This is national scandal,' she asserted. Badenoch dismissed Defence Secretary John Healey's recent claims that Britain is ready to defend itself, stating bluntly: 'I am not here to lie to you. We are not ready.'
Chagos Islands Deal Abandonment
Badenoch welcomed news that the government has shelved controversial plans to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius. She described Prime Minister Keir Starmer's proposed deal as 'astonishingly naïve', noting that Mauritius operates 'in the orbit of China'. The arrangement would have involved leasing back the strategic Diego Garcia military base to the UK for approximately £101 million annually.
The Conservative leader argued that the abandoned deal demonstrates Labour's misguided approach to international relations: 'The Labour government's obsession with 'lawfare' is summed up by their Chagos deal – the site of a vital US-UK defence base they are giving away to a country in the orbit of China and paying billions of pounds to do so.'
Conservative Defence Proposals
Badenoch outlined ambitious defence plans should the Conservatives return to power, including:
- Reinstating the two-child benefit cap to redirect £3 billion toward defence
- Creating the 'largest net increase in British troops under any government since the Second World War'
- Recruiting 6,000 regular soldiers and 14,000 reservists
- Establishing a £17 billion sovereign defence fund from sources including redirected Net Zero projects
- Investing in British defence startups and drone technology across armed forces
Criticism of US Relations and Readiness Failures
While agreeing with President Trump's assessment of European defence shortcomings, Badenoch criticised his 'childish remarks about the Prime Minister' and suggested that 'close allies should disagree in private'. She highlighted Britain's inadequate response to the Iran conflict, noting that France had to assist the UK due to a 'shocking lack of readiness'.
'We seemingly had no plan to protect our citizens in the region,' Badenoch stated, describing how Britain's only active minesweeper was removed from the Gulf and its only active destroyer remained in Portsmouth just before conflict erupted.
Broader Social Concerns
In related commentary for the Daily Mail, Badenoch warned of a 'collapse of consequences in British life', citing teenage gang looting in London, rising welfare dependency, and small boat arrivals undermining border controls. She argued that restoring consequences across society is essential to addressing these issues.
'If welfare pays more than work, people will drift out of the labour market. And that across society, if the rules are not enforced, they will not be followed,' she concluded, emphasising that tough choices are necessary to ensure national security and social stability.
