Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has announced plans for a significant increase in the United Kingdom’s defence spending, aiming to raise it to 3% of GDP by the 2029-30 fiscal year. The proposed uplift, described as the largest in a generation, would be financed through substantial cuts to the welfare budget.

Badenoch criticized Labour leader Andy Burnham for lacking a clear strategy to boost defence funding, accusing him of “dither and delay.” She emphasized the government’s primary responsibility to national defence and outlined the Conservatives’ intention to reach the 3% defence spending target within the current parliamentary term by reducing welfare expenditures, including reinstating the two-child benefit cap.

The planned savings to support the defence budget would include £4 billion annually through reforms to housing benefit and £3.1 billion from reimposing the two-child benefit limit. Additional measures involve ending VAT exemptions for motability vehicles, estimated to save £1 billion, and withdrawing plans to return the Chagos Islands to Mauritius while retaining a lease on the Diego Garcia military base, which would save £200 million.

The opposition shadow ministers welcomed the focus on defence but stressed the need for welfare reform to accompany increased military investment. Shadow Defence Secretary James Cartlidge criticized Burnham for failing to address both defence funding and welfare spending, arguing that reluctance to act has increased risks to national security and placed an unfair burden on the armed forces. He called for prioritizing resources to boost defence spending by £10 billion annually to meet NATO commitments.

Shadow Chancellor Andrew Griffith supported the proposed welfare savings, stating that the Conservative plan would reduce the welfare bill by £23 billion overall, making the system fairer while ensuring the UK is prepared for emerging global threats.

Labour’s position remains cautious. While John Healey, who resigned as Defence Secretary in July over the previous Labour leadership’s defence policy, warned of escalating threats from Russia and supports defence spending increases, current Labour plans are understood to include raising defence expenditure to 2.7% of GDP in the October 28 Budget, with a longer-term goal of 3% or above to meet NATO targets expected in next year’s spending review. Burnham has reiterated his commitment to increase defence funding but has yet to specify detailed measures to finance it.

The debate on balancing welfare reform with defence priorities continues to feature prominently in the political discourse ahead of upcoming fiscal decisions, highlighting differing approaches between the Conservative and Labour parties on national security and social spending.