Prime Minister faces backlash over defence spending at Prime Minister’s Questions
Kemi Badenoch slams Keir Starmer over defence spending
Kemi Badenoch ripped into Sir Keir Starmer over defence spending at PMQs at the moment.
The Tory chief instructed the Prime Minister that “speaking about a rise is just not the identical as giving a rise”.
She mentioned: “He promised that the defence funding plan can be revealed final autumn. What’s the maintain up?”
Sir Keir replied: “I’ve set out my place – the defence funding plan is the primary line-by-line overview of defence budgets for 18 years.
“She talks about speaking – for those who’re going to assist and make your nation protected, you must get the best calls on the massive points.
It comes after former Nato chief Lord Robertson warned the UK is underprepared for struggle because of the “ever-expanding welfare funds” and “corrosive complacency” from the Authorities.
6 days in the past14:22 Steph Spyro
Reeves: My precedence is financial safety
Chancellor Rachel Reeves has held talks with finance ministers from economies together with Australia and Japan to co-ordinate the response to the Center East battle’s financial fallout.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves mentioned: “This isn’t our struggle, however it’s pushing up prices for UK households and companies. My precedence is financial safety – preserving prices down, taking again management of our vitality safety, and appearing responsibly within the nationwide curiosity.
“A sustained ceasefire and avoiding knee-jerk responses is essential to limiting prices for households. In Washington I’m urging a co-ordinated response centered on stability, together with protected passage for vitality provides by the Strait of Hormuz.”
Conservative chief Kemi Badenoch has known as for the Authorities to publish the defence funding plan earlier than the top of the parliamentary session in two weeks.
She mentioned: “Lord Robertson’s criticisms have been of the Prime Minister, and he says Britain’s nationwide safety is in peril.
“Our armed forces are on the finish of their tether ready for this Authorities to fund the strategic defence overview.
“There are nonetheless two weeks of the parliamentary session left so why received’t the Prime Minister publish the defence funding plan earlier than then?”
Responding, Sir Keir mentioned: “We put in place the most important sustained enhance the defence spending because the Chilly Warfare
“Let me spell that out. Meaning we’re spending £270 billion over this Parliament. That’s £5 billion extra this yr, with defence funding growing yearly.
“These are file quantities, choices of a Labour Prime Minister, a Labour Chancellor and a Labour Authorities.”
6 days in the past12:24 Jonathan Walker
Assertion on Hillsborough regulation
The Prime Minister has reiterated his dedication to introducing the Hillsborough Legislation.
Talking at first of Prime Minister’s Questions, Sir Keir Starmer mentioned: “At this time marks 37 years because the Hillsborough catastrophe, when 97 males, girls and youngsters went to a soccer match and by no means returned.
“My promise stays, working with households, we’ll ship a Hillsborough Legislation to finish the injustice that they’ve suffered and make sure the state will at all times act for the folks that it serves.”
6 days in the past12:22 Jonathan Walker
Lord Robertson acquired it mistaken, says PM
Sir Keir Starmer has mentioned he respects Lord Robertson of Port Ellen however doesn’t agree with the previous Nato secretary normal’s criticisms of the Authorities on defence.
Talking at Prime Minister’s Questions, he mentioned: “Let me begin by saying I respect Lord Robertson and I thank him once more for finishing up the strategic (defence) overview.
“My duty is to maintain the British folks protected, and that could be a responsibility I take severely. That’s the reason I don’t agree together with his feedback
“Final February, that was seven months after taking workplace, I took the choice to extend defence spending from 2.3% to 2.6%, paid for by my troublesome resolution on abroad help.
“Final June, on the Nato summit, I dedicated to elevating core defence spending to three.5% Final November, the funds dedicated file funding to defence. I reaffirm these commitments now.
“The strategic defence overview, is a ten yr blueprint for nationwide safety. The defence funding plan will put that into impact. Will probably be revealed as quickly as doable.”
Sir Keir was responding to a query from Conservative chief Kemi Badenoch, who requested why Lord Robertson mentioned the Prime Minister had a “corrosive complacency” relating to defence.
6 days in the past12:21 Jonathan Walker
‘Nearer relations with the EU’
Requested about lengthy queues at borders going into the EU, Sir Keir says he believes in creating “nearer relations with the EU” on points together with defence and the financial system.
6 days in the past12:20 Jonathan Walker
Liberal Democrat Ed Davey says do not ship the King to US
Sir Ed Davey says the PM ought to cancel the King’s deliberate state go to to the USA.
Sir Keir says he’s being put below strain to commit the UK to participate within the struggle in opposition to Iran, however he will not do this. (What he means is that Donald Trump is attempting to push him into becoming a member of the struggle).
However he says the UK historic bonds with the US are “far better” than any particular person president.
6 days in the past12:18 Jonathan Walker
Hillsborough regulation WILL come into drive says Sir Keir
Responding to Merseyside MP Ian Byrne, the Prime Minister confirms that he’ll guarantee legal guidelines requiring public providers to present full data to inquiries will come into drive.
“Labour MPs will know Lord Robertson, a former defence secretary and a former NATO secretary normal. He’s Labour, by and thru.”
She says in January 2024, Conservatives accepted an improve of destroyers. Later that yr, the brand new Labour authorities “paused” that plan. Will Labour now approve it?
Sir Keir does not reply, however says Kemi Badenoch supported the struggle in Iran.
6 days in the past12:14 Jonathan Walker
Kemi Badenoch says Conservatives will assist Labour lower your expenses
The Conservative chief says her get together is prepared to assist Labour reduce the welfare invoice with the intention to present more cash for defence, however she says Labour has refused.
“That is so poor from the Prime Minister” says Kemi Badenoch.
“It is a second of profound nationwide seriousness, and what are they doing? They’re selling intercourse toys in Parliament”.
It is a reference to Labour MP Samantha Niblett who mentioned she plans to carry intercourse toys into Westminster.
She provides: “He will not fund our army as a result of he desires to fund extra welfare”.
(Picture: ) 6 days in the past12:10 Jonathan Walker
The Speaker tells off Sir Keir Starmer
Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle tells Sir Keir he’s there to reply questions, to not speak concerning the Conservatives.
“It is Prime Minister’s Questions. We have to pay attention” says the Speaker.
Commons Speaker tells off Keir Starmer at PMQs
Kemi Badenoch asks Sir Keir “what is the maintain up?”. She factors out: “He promised that the defence funding plan can be revealed final autumn.” However it has not been revealed.
6 days in the past12:07 Jonathan Walker
Tories reduce defence, says Starmer
Keir Starmer says the Conservatives reduce the dimensions of the military and navy once they have been in energy.
6 days in the past12:07 Jonathan Walker
Kemi Badenoch piles on the strain over defence
Mrs Badenoch factors out Lord Robertson was a Labour Cupboard Minister. She says: “He mentioned Britain’s nationwide safety is in peril.”
She asks why the Authorities has delayed a defence funding plan
Keir Starmer says the Authorities is spending file quantities on defence.
6 days in the past12:05 Jonathan Walker
Why did Lord Robertson say the UK is just not capable of defend itself?
Kemi Badenoch asks about feedback from former NATO head and ex-Labour defence secretary Lord Robertson, who mentioned the UK had been “complacent” and isn’t spending sufficient on defence.
Sir Keir says “I don’t agree” with Lord Robertson’s declare
6 days in the past12:04 Jonathan Walker
Starmer pledges to assist armed forces and plan for ‘future contingencies’
Keir Starmer talks concerning the struggle within the Gulf, in response to a query from a Labour backbencher.
He says: “My ideas are clear”. He claims Conservative chief Kemi Badenoch desires to leap into the struggle “with each toes”
6 days in the past12:02 Jonathan Walker
Two statements from Keir Starmer at begin of PMQs
Keir Starmer says the Southport inquiry report is “actually harrowing” and the Authorities will “make the adjustments wanted”, following the inquiry into the homicide of three women.
He additionally pledges to introduce a “Hillsborough regulation”, to make sure households of victims of tragedies get justice.
Sir Keir Starmer has been pictured leaving 10 Downing Road as he heads to PMQs.
(Picture: Getty) 6 days in the past11:24 Katie Harris
Which MPs have questions at PMQs?
Here’s a listing of the MPs who’ve questions at PMQs.
(Picture: PARLIAMENT) 6 days in the past10:24 Katie Harris
Tories up 3 factors in new ballot
The Conservatives are up three factors to second place within the newest Extra in Frequent ballot.
Kemi Badenoch’s get together is on 22%, simply three factors behind Reform UK within the lead on 25%.
u27a1ufe0f REF UK 25% (-5)
ud83cudf33 CON 22% (+3)
ud83cudf39 LAB 21% (+1)
ud83cudf0d GREEN 13% (+1)
ud83dudd36 LIB DEM 12% (nc)
u2753OTH 3% (nc)
ud83dudfe1 SNP 2% (nc)N = 2,011 | 10-13/4 | Change w/ 8/4 pic.twitter.com/DNZVf9Incv
u2014 Luke Tryl (@LukeTryl) April 15, 2026
Campaigners who received a authorized case within the UK’s highest court docket on the definition of a girl are to satisfy with the equalities minister nearly precisely one yr on from the landmark ruling.
For Girls Scotland (FWS) will meet with Bridget Phillipson to press for “extra element” after she confirmed long-awaited steerage on single-sex areas is prone to be revealed subsequent month.
The group’s director Marion Calder mentioned she and her fellow campaigners really feel “cautiously optimistic” after Ms Phillipson’s replace, which comes eight months on from the draft steerage having initially been handed to her division.
6 days in the past08:25 Katie Harris
Trump says relationship with Starmer won’t overshadow King’s go to
Donald Trump has insisted his deteriorating relationship with Sir Keir Starmer won’t have an effect on the King’s state go to to America.
Chatting with Sky Information, the US President described Charles as a “nice gentleman”, including: “I’ve recognized him for a very long time. He’s great, great particular person.”
Mr Trump mentioned his strained relationship with the Prime Minister would “under no circumstances” overshadow the royal go to.
He added that whereas he preferred Sir Keir, he had made a “tragic mistake in closing the North Sea oil”, in addition to “a tragic mistake on immigration”.
6 days in the past07:59 Katie Harris
Minister responds to defence warning
A minister has insisted balancing welfare and defence spending “is just not a zero-sum recreation” after a warning by a former Nato chief.
Lord George Robertson mentioned the UK is underprepared for struggle because of the “ever-expanding welfare funds” and “corrosive complacency” from Sir Keir Starmer’s authorities.
However Chief Secretary to the Treasury James Murray instructed Instances Radio: “It isn’t a zero-sum recreation as a result of we’re growing the funding in defence because of our choices to file ranges.
“It is value additionally saying that the welfare system is not some sort of amorphous blob. It consists of issues like our resolution to take away the two-child profit cap, which helps tons of of 1000’s of kids out of poverty.”
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6 days in the past07:38 Katie Harris
Trump says Iran desires a deal ‘very badly’
Donald Trump has mentioned a second spherical of talks between the US and Iran may occur “over the following two days” after negotiations on the weekend collapsed.
In an interview which is because of be broadcast at the moment, the US President instructed the Fox Enterprise Community he seen the battle as nearing completion and mentioned Iran was eager to make a deal.
He mentioned: “If I pulled up stakes proper now, it will take them 20 years to rebuild that nation.
“And we’re not completed. We’ll see what occurs. I believe they wish to make a deal very badly.”
6 days in the past07:06 Katie Harris
Reeves to satisfy US counterpart
Rachel Reeves is about to satisfy her US counterpart at the moment after slamming the Iran struggle.
The Chancellor will meet US treasury secretary Scott Bessent, who has mentioned “a small little bit of financial ache” brought on by the battle was value it to forestall Tehran getting a nuclear weapon.
The pair have been as a consequence of maintain face-to-face talks in Washington DC on Wednesday in the course of the spring conferences of the Worldwide Financial Fund.
Ms Reeves has mentioned she is “offended” with America’s actions within the Center East which she branded a “folly” that impacted households within the UK and all over the world.
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