Kemi Badenoch, the leader of the opposition and leader of the Conservative Party has condemned the British government’s decision to cancel the planned increase in defense spending to 2.5 percent of GDP by 2030, calling it “indefensible” amid rising global threats.
In a letter dated February 22, 2025, Badenoch chastised Prime Minister Keir Starmer for neglecting to take immediate action on national security, warning that “these decisions cannot be delayed.
She said that if Russia escalates its aggression and former US President Donald Trump insists on increased contributions from NATO countries, Britain risks losing its global security leadership role.
“Your decision to cancel that planned expenditure and reverse the commitment to increase defense spending to 2.5 percent by 2030 is indefensible,” she wrote in the letter, which she also shared on X on Sunday.
She queried, “Why did you think, as it became apparent that Russia was trying to strengthen its hand in the conflict, that cancelling planned increases in defense expenditure up to 2030 was right?”
Badenoch emphasized the deteriorating security scenario in Europe, stating that “the threat picture in Europe has worsened.”
She also highlighted the prime minister’s obvious hypocrisy in saying that British troops could be deployed in Ukraine while refusing to increase military funding.
“And yet, at the same time as offering a major new deployment of British military forces on the frontline with Russia, you refused to accept the case for increasing defense expenditure now,” she stated.
The opposition leader encouraged the government to restore the scheduled budget rise and commit to additional defense investments before the prime minister’s impending visit to meet with President Trump.
“As a bare minimum, you should adopt the plan sitting on your desk—set out by your predecessor—to fund the increase to 2.5 percent. And you should announce this before your imminent visit to see President Trump. But you will need to go further and faster.”
Badenoch proposed redirecting funds from other areas to boost defense, suggesting that “some of the 0.5 percent of GDP currently spent on overseas development should be repurposed—at least in the short term—to fund the more pressing defense and security challenges, because every pound of taxpayers’ money spent overseas must be directly furthering our safety and stability.”
She also criticized the government’s welfare programs, claiming that the Welfare Secretary’s present strategy puts higher welfare spending ahead of national security.
“The Welfare Secretary is now reportedly considering such policies, having previously rejected them. This is, of course, welcome, but there are reports she is seeking to spend any savings on further welfare, rather than critical national priorities such as defense,” the letter read.
Badenoch also attacked the government’s handling of the Chagos Islands, calling it an “indefensible surrender of British territory.”
Badenoch advised against rushing into a deal with Mauritius that would result in Britain losing control of the islands.
“You should not be concluding a deal that would mean British taxpayers paying Mauritius billions of pounds to take our territory,” she wrote, demanding clarity on whether defense funds were being used for the negotiations.
