Badenoch calls for welfare cuts to fund Britain’s defence — The Guardian
In the United Kingdom, Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch criticised Prime Minister Andy Burnham for, in her view, avoiding difficult decisions on defence funding. She reiterated her call to cut the welfare budget in order to direct more money to defence, The Guardian reports.
Debate over welfare spending
In a comment to The Telegraph, Badenoch said that the government must properly fund defence amid warnings from former military chiefs about the readiness of British forces for war. She also said that the leaders of France and Poland, in her assessment, are already taking measures in response to the growing threat from Russia.
The debate over the balance between welfare and defence spending intensified after a statement by Burnham on 9 September during Prime Minister’s Questions. He then said that national security should not be provided at the expense of social protection. Badenoch called this position a dangerous signal of unwillingness to cut welfare spending to fund the military.
More current news is available on the UA.News Telegram channel Telegram.
Defence spending
The United Kingdom has pledged to spend 3.5% of national income on defence by 2035, in line with the commitment of NATO countries. At the same time, pressure is growing on Chancellor John Healey to explain how a further increase in defence spending will be secured ahead of next month’s budget.
Former security minister Admiral Lord West said that the British armed forces are in a difficult state. He mentioned cyberattacks, drones near certain facilities, and threats to undersea cables. Former Chief of the General Staff Lord Dannatt also criticised Burnham’s and Healey’s approach to national security issues.
The Conservatives propose limiting housing benefits in order to raise £4 billion for defence. The party rejects claims that this could make people homeless, but notes that some benefit recipients may have to move to cheaper housing.
