Andy Burnham and Kemi Badenoch trade blows over defence at PMQs
Andy Burnham and Kemi Badenoch traded blows over defence at Prime Minister’s Questions, as he criticised Tory plans for an Iron Dome style air defence system.
The Conservative leader compared her proposal for a British missile defence system to Israel’s Iron Dome earlier this month, before later disowning the description. In the Commons, the Prime Minister accused Mrs Badenoch of not being in control of her own defence policy, while the Opposition leader pressed for a date on when defence spending will reach 3% of GDP. Chancellor John Healey has yet to lay out a path to reaching the target since being appointed by Mr Burnham. He resigned as defence secretary over the issue earlier this year, under Sir Keir Starmer’s leadership. On Tuesday, Defence Secretary Wes Streeting suggested a commitment to the spending by 2030 without setting out the funding could trigger a Liz Truss mini-budget style economic incident. Speaking on Wednesday, Mrs Badenoch said: “The Budget is in two weeks. Let me tell the Prime Minister what should be in it: cutting welfare to fund defence. “In a BBC interview on Sunday, the defence secretary refused to commit to spending 3% of GDP by 2030. “I see he’s not here today; still not doing his job. People used to resign over this. “This is the money that Britain needs to keep us safe. Now the Prime Minister won’t even tell us what his plan is for another year. So, why wouldn’t he announce a date for 3% in this month’s Budget?” In his response, Mr Burnham said: “She will have to wait for the Budget. “But she comes here every week and poses as the world-leading authority on defence. “Now, I recall an interview she gave – she talked about interviews – I recall an interview recently about the Conservatives’ plans for an iron dome, and then she said it isn’t our plan. “And then it emerged that it was briefed by her team, which doesn’t sound like she’s in control of her own policy on defence. “And then, under questioning on LBC from Mr (Nick) Ferrari, she said, ‘you’ve got to speak to a defence expert about exactly how it will work’. “Well, obviously, we worked out in that interview she wasn’t a defence expert, and I think Mr Ferrari is still waiting for an explanation.” Mrs Badenoch then said: “A month ago, the Prime Minister was boasting that it was time to engage in problem solving rather than point scoring, it seems that’s another thing that he said without thinking. “He wants to talk about defence, let’s talk about defence. We are the only party that actually has a plan to get to 3% by 2030.” The Tory leader also pressed Mr Burnham on the approval of drilling in the North Sea and on the welfare bill. She said: “All of the gas from Jackdaw goes onto the British grid, so will he now stop faffing about and approve Rosebank and Jackdaw?” The Prime Minister replied: “I’ve had to wait for the Government process, which was struck down by the courts under the Conservative government, to be fixed because they messed it up, and we inherited that situation. “So I will take a pragmatic approach on oil and gas, we will set out our decisions shortly.” Mrs Badenoch went on to say: “Is the Prime Minister afraid to cut benefits because he doesn’t want to fight with his backbenchers?” Mr Burnham said the Government “will bring down the welfare bill”.
Published: by Radio NewsHub