Burnham and Badenoch spar over defence spending target and policy control at PMQs
At Prime Minister's Questions, Andy Burnham and Kemi Badenoch clashed over the lack of a timetable for reaching a 3% of GDP defence budget, with Badenoch urging welfare cuts to fund it.
In a contentious Prime Minister's Questions session, Andy Burnham demanded that Kemi Badenoch provide a specific timetable for achieving a defence budget equal to 3% of GDP by 2030. Badenoch replied that the forthcoming budget would contain the necessary measures, suggesting cuts to welfare to finance the increase, and accused Burnham of lacking his own plan. She also defended herself after previously likening a British missile-defence concept to Israel's Iron Dome, a comparison she later repudiated.
Burnham highlighted that Chancellor John Healey, appointed by Burnham, has yet to outline a path to the target. The debate referenced Badenoch's resignation as defence secretary earlier in the year under Sir Keir Starmer's leadership and a recent LBC interview where she was urged to consult defence experts. Both politicians accused each other of being out of control of defence policy.
Why it matters
The dispute signals ongoing political uncertainty over the UK's defence funding and priorities ahead of the next budget.
How this story developed
- Sep 29 Andy Burnham signals possible UK return to the EU after condemning Brexit
- Sep 30 The Prime Minister now says re‑joining the EU is among the options the government will consider.
- Sep 30 Burnham signaled that full EU membership is among the possible routes Labour could evaluate.
- Oct 3 A new poll shows half of British adults now support rejoining the EU.
- Oct 4 Kemi Badenoch opened the Conservative conference by framing the Tories as a common-sense party, unveiling pledges on tighter welfare, prison expansion and free childcare for high-earning families.
- Oct 5 Badenoch pushed to drop the £100,000 childcare tax cap at the conference.
- Oct 6 Announced a cut to employer National Insurance for 21‑ to 24‑year‑olds from 15% to 7.5%.
- Oct 7 Badenoch announced a defence spending target of 3% of GDP.
- Oct 8 Badenoch denounced Reform UK as ethnically exclusive at the conference.
- Oct 8 Burnham announced that the pension triple‑lock will be scrapped after the next general election and its savings will fund a National Care Service.
- Oct 11 Andy Burnham told a podcast that he was confirmed Russia meddled in the 2016 Brexit vote and used the comment to signal a possible push for the UK to rejoin the EU.
- Oct 11 Burnham has moved from acknowledging past interference to proposing an EU re‑entry option in the Labour platform.
- Oct 12 Burnham publicly acknowledged Russian involvement in the 2016 Brexit referendum.
- Oct 13 Tory leaders publicly criticised Burnham’s assertion of Russian interference.
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