The Conservatives have pledged to build a version of Israel's Iron Dome to protect the UK from attacks by missiles and drones. Shadow Defence Secretary James Cartlidge is expected to set out the plans in a speech at the party's conference in Birmingham later today.
Britannia Shield details
The so-called 'Britannia Shield' would involve installing new advanced radar systems and boosting the UK's number of interceptor missiles. Up to £10 billion would be invested in the plan over a decade, the Tories said, with a 'minimal deployable capability' during the party's first term in office before the system is expanded and strengthened.
The Lib Dems accused the Tories of using 'Truss-style fantasy economics' with their price tag for the plan. Defence spokesperson James MacCleary said: '£10 billion would not even touch the sides for a complete UK-wide "Iron Dome".'
Badenoch's clarification
Despite the Conservatives describing the scheme as 'in essence, a British Iron Dome' in a press release, leader Kemi Badenoch insisted this morning that is not what they are planning. She told Times Radio: 'No, not at all.'
Rather than protecting the entire country from attack, the 'Britannia Shield' would specifically defend critical national infrastructure and military bases. Asked if there was a contradiction between saying the move would protect Britain and the focus on infrastructure, Badenoch said: 'I think that you're splitting hairs here.'
Defence spending plans
The Conservatives have previously set out their plan to hit the 3% defence spending target by 2030, through cuts to welfare and reprioritising existing expenditure. Those plans would include reforms to Housing Benefit and the reintroduction of the two-child benefit cap, which was scrapped by Labour last year.
