Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch has pledged a major overhaul of Britain’s defence strategy, placing national security at the centre of her latest political campaign and warning that the country must urgently strengthen its military capabilities in the face of growing global threats.
Speaking at a Conservative Party event, Badenoch argued that the changing global security environment requires urgent action, claiming Britain must move away from a period of complacency and restore national defence as the central priority of government.
Her intervention came as Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer prepared to attend what Badenoch described as the most important NATO summit in a generation, amid concerns among Western allies over Russia’s military ambitions and the future security of Europe.
“Britain has received intelligence that Russia could launch an attack on NATO as soon as 2030. This could put us in direct conflict with the world’s biggest nuclear state. We could not be facing a more serious situation and our politics should be reflecting the gravity of this moment.”
Kemi Badenoch
The Conservative leader argued that political divisions in Westminster were distracting attention from urgent national security issues, accusing rival parties of failing to recognise the seriousness of global threats.
“Every single party in Westminster should be talking about our national security. Instead we have the opposite. Just at a time when Britain needs focus, Westminster has never been more distracted.”
Kemi Badenoch
Conservative Party leader also attacked the government’s defence investment strategy, claiming it lacked sufficient funding and warning that military readiness could be compromised. She criticised the amount of additional funding allocated to the armed forces, arguing that it fell far short of what was required.
The Conservative leader accused the government of attempting to present the defence situation as stable despite its serious shortcomings.
“Keir Starmer has left a £5 billion black hole for his successor,” she stated, adding that claims that Britain’s armed forces had “never had it so good” did not reflect reality.
Badenoch also criticised Labour leadership contenders, particularly Andy Burnham, accusing him of failing to address international security challenges.
She pointed to recent incidents involving Russian military activity near British assets, including an incident involving the interception of a Russian aircraft near a British aircraft carrier, and questioned whether Labour figures had adequately responded.
“What did Andy Burnham say? Nothing,” she said.
The Conservative leader also raised concerns about threats to undersea infrastructure, including communication cables, warning that attacks on such systems could have serious consequences for Britain’s economy and national security.
Instead, Badenoch presented the Conservatives as a party committed to rebuilding Britain’s defence capacity through significant financial restructuring.
She stated that the party had developed a plan to reduce welfare spending and redirect savings toward defence.
“Conservatives want Britain to fund defence properly. So we have worked up a plan to save billions on welfare and spend that money on defence instead.”
Kemi Badenoch
Badenoch Targets Labour on Defence, Spending and Taxes
Beyond defence, Badenoch used the speech to launch a wider attack on Labour’s economic policies, arguing that national security depended not only on military strength but also on economic stability.
She accused the government of increasing the tax burden on households and businesses, claiming that recent tax rises had damaged economic growth and weakened Britain’s ability to invest in defence.
“Britain is being crushed under the highest tax burden since the Second World War,” she said.
The Conservative leader criticised proposals reportedly being considered by Labour, including possible changes to capital gains taxation and the introduction of a land value tax.
She argued that such measures would place additional pressure on families already facing financial difficulties.
Badenoch also attacked Labour’s position on regional taxation, accusing the party of seeking to transfer wealth between different parts of the country rather than creating broader economic growth.
“Andy Burnham’s big idea is to tax the South to fund the North. It is robbing Peter to pay Paul. We want to look after everyone.”
Kemi Badenoch
Furthermore, the Conservative leader also criticised Labour’s foreign policy decisions, including a proposed agreement she described as a costly concession involving British territory.
She claimed that funds allocated to such agreements could instead be directed toward strengthening national defence.
“What is it about a plan to hand over British sovereign territory and pay £35 billion for the privilege that Labour loves so much? That is £35 billion that we could be using to fund our defence instead.”
Kemi Badenoch
She argued that “Britain needs some grown-ups in the room, but there don’t appear to be any outside the Conservative Party.”
“We will cut welfare and fund defence. We will restore common sense. We will get Britain working again, and we will unite our country.”
Kemi Badenoch
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