Starmer slams Badenoch over aids cut, says she is desperate for relevance

Keir Starmer, the UK Prime Minister, has strongly rebuked opposition leader Kemi Badenoch after she claimed he had followed her advice on cutting the aid budget and pointed out contradictions in the government’s defence spending figures.

Read also: Starmer announces hike in UK defense spending, aid budget cuts

Starmer recently announced a £13.4 billion annual increase in the UK’s defence budget as a demonstration of the country’s commitment to European security. However, his defence secretary later stated that the actual increase amounted to only £6 billion, prompting Badenoch to challenge the discrepancy.

“Over the weekend, I suggested to the prime minister that he cut the aid budget, and I’m pleased he accepted my advice. It’s the fastest response I’ve ever had from him,” Badenoch remarked. “However, he announced £13.4 billion in additional defence spending yesterday, while his defence secretary said the uplift is only £6 billion this morning. Which is the correct figure?”

In response, Starmer dismissed Badenoch’s assertions and took a sharp jab at her during a Parliament session.

“I’m going to have to let the leader of the opposition down gently. She didn’t factor into my thinking at all. I was so busy over the weekend that I didn’t even see her proposal,” he retorted. “She’s appointed herself, I think, the saviour of Western civilisation. It’s a desperate search for relevance,” he said.

Despite the controversy, Starmer reaffirmed that the proposed increase would allocate an additional £13.4 billion ($17 billion) to defence spending each year from 2027. According to the UK Ministry of Defence, the country spent £53.9 billion ($68.3 billion) on defence in the 2023-2024 financial year.