Kemi vows to slash benefits bill to boost defence as she piles pressure on Burnham

Kemi Badenoch piled pressure on Andy Burnham over defence last night as she pledged to slash welfare to fund military spending.

In a major intervention, the Conservative leader set out plans to raise defence spending to 3 per cent of GDP by the end of the decade – a commitment the Prime Minister has failed to match.

The Conservative leader outlined a £10billion package of savings to fund the investment, which is seen as vital to keeping Britain safe.

Chancellor John Healey resigned from his previous job as defence secretary in June over Sir Keir Starmer's refusal to commit to the 3 per cent target, saying it was the minimum needed to keep Britain safe. 

But neither he nor Mr Burnham are now willing to say whether they will find the money to boost Britain's cash-strapped Armed Forces.

The Prime Minister ducked the issue again yesterday, despite fresh threats from Russia and pressure from his own MPs.

Mrs Badenoch said: 'The first duty of every Government is defence and the Conservatives will always put our defence first. 

'That's why we are setting out our plans to reach three per cent on defence spending by the end of this Parliament through further cuts to welfare and restoring the two-child benefit cap.

Kemi Badenoch outlined a £10billion package of savings to fund the investment, which is seen as vital to keeping Britain safe

The Prime Minister ducked the question on Britain's cash-strapped Armed Forces again yesterday, despite fresh threats from Russia and pressure from his own MPs

'John Healey resigned from Keir Starmer's government saying Labour were not keeping our country safe. Now he is the Chancellor he should adopt our plans and make sure our Armed Forces have the funding they need.'

Mrs Badenoch's move heaps pressure on the PM and Mr Healey to find the funds to accelerate defence spending at a time of rising international threat.

Mr Burnham was savaged over the issue by a senior MP on his own side yesterday.

Tan Dhesi, Labour chairman of the cross-party Commons defence committee, accused him of 'kicking the can down the road' by deferring a decision on the issue until next year's comprehensive spending review.

In a bruising intervention, Mr Dhesi also warned that Mr Burnham's trademark optimistic bluster would not be enough to keep Britain safe. He told the PM it was 'imperative that we invest in our Armed Forces in the here and now'.

He added: 'Defence is definitely one area where vibes alone just will not be enough. Rather than kicking the can down the road… will the Prime Minister urgently commit to charting a pathway to reaching three per cent of GDP being spent on defence by 2030?'

Mr Burnham appeared thrown by the hostility of the question and he told Mr Dhesi: 'I have made that commitment, I have made it very clearly.' 

But Downing Street later confirmed that he is only committed to a much looser target of 3.5 per cent by 2035. Vladimir Putin has lashed out at the West as his forces struggle in Ukraine.

Vladimir Putin has lashed out at the West as his forces struggle in Ukraine (file image)

In recent days, Russia has threatened the UK with 'catastrophic consequences' over its support for Ukraine. Germany revealed this week that Russia was responsible for a failed drone attack on Leipzig airport. 

CIA chief John Ratcliffe is reported to have travelled to Moscow last week to warn Mr Putin against attacking a Nato country.

In his June resignation letter, Mr Healey revealed UK spy agencies believe Russia could attack a Nato country by 2030.

But Britain has slid down the Nato spending league table in recent years, despite the growing threats. 

Under Labour's plans, spending will nudge up from 2.6 per cent next year to 2.7 per cent by the end of the decade. In contrast, Germany expects to spend 3.5 per cent by 2030 while Poland is already spending 4.7 per cent.

Mrs Badenoch's plans would involve slashing billions of pounds from the bloated benefits budget. 

This will include at least £4billion a year through reforms to housing benefit. Restoring the two-child benefit cap, which Labour axed this year, would raise £3.1billion. £1billion would be saved by ending VAT exemptions for Motability vehicles.

The rest of the £10billion would be funded by scrapping Labour's Chagos Islands giveaway and by diverting money from new windfarms and civil research and development.

Defence now looks set to be one of the biggest early tests of Mr Burnham's administration. 

Mr Healey quit in June after the then chancellor Rachel Reeves refused to agree a timetable for hitting the 3 per cent spending target. But since being appointed her successor in July he has refused to commit to finding the cash.

Mr Burnham yesterday told MPs: 'The very reason I appointed this Chancellor to his position is because of his strong commitment to the defence of our country. We will fully fund the defence investment plan.' 

But Mrs Badenoch urged him to move faster and 'get serious about defending our nation'.