Politics

Kemi Badenoch criticizes Andy Burnham over timeline for military spending increases

The Conservative leader proposed welfare reductions to fund a 3% defense spending target by 2030, while Labour plans a roadmap toward 3.5% by 2035.

Updated Sep 3, 2026 · 14:19 UTC1 reports

The short version

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch called for raising UK defense spending to 3% of GDP by 2030, accusing Prime Minister Andy Burnham of delaying necessary investments.
The opposition proposed funding the estimated £10 billion annual increase by reintroducing the two-child benefit cap, restructuring housing benefits, altering Motability VAT rules, and reallocating other state funds.
Prime Minister Burnham's administration maintains its plan to outline a path in the spring toward meeting NATO's 3.5% GDP target by 2035.

Kemi Badenoch outlined a Conservative plan to increase UK defense spending to 3% of GDP by 2030, a measure estimated to cost £10 billion annually.[BBC News]
The Conservative proposal would fund the defense increase through measures including reimposing the two-child benefit cap, reforming housing benefits to save £4 billion, ending VAT exemptions for Motability vehicles to save £1 billion, re-purposing British Business Bank funds, and savings related to the Chagos deal.[BBC News]
Prime Minister Andy Burnham stated his government will present a roadmap in the spring to achieve a NATO defense spending target of 3.5% of GDP by 2035.[BBC News]
Labour MP Tan Dhesi also urged Burnham during Prime Minister's Questions to establish an immediate pathway toward the 3% target by 2030.[BBC News]

The specific details and financial mechanism of the government's spring plan to achieve the 3.5% target by 2035 have not yet been published.[BBC News]