Kemi Badenoch has warned Andy Burnham that repeating Keir Starmer's approach to defence could put the UK in danger. Writing exclusively for the Express, the Conservative leader calls on the Prime Minister to stop wasting money on welfare and instead fund the armed forces properly.
Defence as First Duty
Badenoch insists that the first duty of any government is to protect its people, arguing that without security there can be no real economic growth, and without strong armed forces there can be no credible foreign policy. She questions how Britain can expect to be taken seriously if it does not show itself to be a serious power.
When Andy Burnham appointed John Healey as Chancellor of the Exchequer, Badenoch says she assumed it was a sign that the new Prime Minister recognised this essential truth. Healey, who served as Defence Secretary under Keir Starmer, resigned because he felt the government was not taking defence seriously.
Healey's Resignation and Spending Concerns
In his resignation letter, Healey accused Starmer of forcing him to "make decisions that would reduce the readiness of our forces and increase the risk to personnel on operations and could make the country less safe." Healey resigned on a clear point of principle – that Britain should be hitting 3% of GDP on defence spending by 2030. But on Labour's current funding levels, the UK would be around 2.7% of GDP by the end of the decade.
Badenoch criticises Burnham for being evasive on military funding while sharing details about his tea and pub snacks. She highlights growing global threats, including Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Iran's instability in the Middle East, and China's military expansion, as well as new threats from cyber warfare and artificial intelligence.
Conservative Approach to Welfare and Defence
The Conservative leader argues that Labour talks endlessly about values but rarely about the hard choices required to defend them. She says ministers announce reviews and strategies, but the armed forces need financial backing, not just warm words. Badenoch describes the situation as feeling like "Keir Starmer all over again – teasing lots of goodies but never delivering."
Badenoch outlines the Conservative approach, which involves reforming the welfare system to support those who genuinely need help while reducing spending on benefits for those who can work but choose not to. She argues that every pound wasted on an ineffective welfare system is a pound that cannot be invested in modern equipment, better housing for service personnel, and the industrial capacity needed to sustain Britain in dangerous times.
She accuses Labour of preferring to borrow more, tax more, or hope that something will come along to save them from making difficult decisions, stating that "hope is not a defence policy" nor a funding strategy.
Questions for September
Badenoch notes that Burnham and Healey have avoided scrutiny over the summer, but September is approaching and the markets, the military, and the public need answers. The chief question is whether the government will commit to spending 3% of GDP on defence by 2030, as the Conservatives have done. In an increasingly dangerous world, she says, Britain needs a government prepared to put national security first and make responsible choices about public spending.
