Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has criticised what she called a missing £5bn in the defence investment plan, saying outgoing prime minister Sir Keir Starmer was leaving a mess for his successor.
The long-awaited plan announced on Tuesday includes £15bn to boost the UK’s defences, but Defence Minister Luke Pollard told the the next chancellor will need to find an extra £4.7bn in this autumn’s Budget to fund the proposals.
At PMQs, Badenoch asked whether Andy Burnham, who is widely expected to take over as PM on 20 July, had agreed to the plan.
Sir Keir accused Badenoch of “faux outrage” and said the Conservatives had reduced defence spending when in government.
The defence investment plan (DIP) was originally due last autumn and was promised before a Nato summit next week.
The plans for £15bn spending between now and 2030 are higher than the previously reported figure of £13.5bn – which led to the resignation of both ex-Defence Secretary John Healey and ex-Armed Forces Minister Al Carns in protest – but much lower than the £28bn reportedly requested by defence chiefs.
Picking up on the Treasury admission that only £10.3bn in savings had currently been identified, Badenoch said: “Meanwhile, Britain is spending it all on welfare.
“Even the limited plan he has announced has completely unravelled because he hasn’t found the money to pay for it: it’s £5bn short.
“We all know he is leaving this mess to his successor, so can he confirm that the MP for Makerfield has agreed to fund the shortfall?”
Sir Keir attacked the Tories for cutting defence spending when in power, saying: “I’m proud of this Labour government and any Labour prime minister would stand beside this plan.”
Badenoch said that, in the past two years, the UK had only increased spending by 0.01% compared to allies.
“We can count, the general can count, the Kremlin can count. His plan doesn’t add up,” she said.
Sir Keir said military chiefs had welcomed the DIP, and and Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ budget had allowed for £22bn of headroom for extra spending commitments.
Burnham is widely expected to replace Reeves as chancellor if he becomes PM, with Energy Secretary Ed Miliband seen as the front-runner to step into the crucial role.
