Kemi Badenoch brands Keir Starmer ‘all mouth and no trousers’ on defence as he jets to the Gulf despite failing to produce vital plan for Britain’s military
Kemi Badenoch accused Sir Keir Starmer of taking a stand on the world stage over the Middle East war while failing to rearm Britain.
The Conservative leader branded the Prime Minister ‘all mouth and pantsless’ on his defense as he flew to the Gulf despite playing no role in ceasefire talks between the US and Iran.
He claimed he still had not published a long-overdue Defense Investment Plan because he had ‘no idea’ how it would pay for the target of 3 per cent of GDP being spent on defence, set by the next Parliament.
His comments came as Sir Keir insisted on a trip to Saudi Arabia that Britain’s diplomatic efforts had helped resolve the crisis.
Ms Badenoch said: ‘At a time when there is war in Europe and war in the Middle East, at a time when these conflicts are affecting every family in Britain, at a time when Britain’s place in the world is changing, our Government literally has no plan.
‘There is no plan for how the government will actually purchase the equipment, weapons and ammunition. No plan on how SDR will be enforced [Strategic Defence Review]. There are no plans to rearm Britain.
‘We haven’t seen the Defense Investment Plan because they have no idea how they’re going to pay for it. ‘Keir Starmer is open-mouthed and pantsless when it comes to defence.’
He will tell the upcoming London Defense Conference that a future Conservative government will reinstate the two-child benefit cap, which Labor abolished to fund increased defense spending.
Sir Keir Starmer met service personnel at Taif air base in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday
If the Conservatives return to power, they will also receive £17bn from Ed Miliband’s ‘vanity’ green schemes to create a Sovereign Defense Fund.
But Ms Badenoch will warn Britain’s rearmament cannot wait until after the election and will call on the Prime Minister to ‘put party interests aside’ and find the money needed now.
‘No empty support checks. But if we agree a common plan I can promise that the Conservatives will back these measures with a three-line whip in Parliament.’
Defense Secretary Luke Pollard responded: ‘The last time Badenoch’s Conservatives were in power they gutted and underfunded our Armed Forces, leaving our brave soldiers short-changed. Rather than taking potshots, Badenoch should start by apologizing for the mess they left behind.’
But there is still no sign of the Defense Investment Plan first promised last autumn, amid claims the Treasury is delaying publishing its plan.
It is unlikely to appear next month due to restrictions on Government announcements during the purdah period before the May elections.
Even Labor MP Tan Dhesi, who chairs the Defense Select Committee, warned: ‘The lack of a public plan now risks undermining the UK’s ability to play a full and leading role in NATO.’
The row came after Sir Keir, who met with British soldiers at King Fahd Air Base in Taif, Saudi Arabia, said Britain was working to make the fragile ceasefire permanent and reopen the vital Strait of Hormuz to ships.
Prime Minister arrived in Jeddah after the ceasefire was declared between the USA and Iran
‘We bring together many countries. I now have the opportunity to have these discussions, here in Saudi Arabia and nearby countries in the region, to coordinate our actions and move forward collectively in pursuit of these two missions,” the prime minister told broadcasters on Wednesday.
Asked if his relationship with Donald Trump was ‘in tatters’ after the US President repeatedly insulted his lack of support for Britain’s strikes on Iran, Sir Keir insisted: ‘I have acted as you would expect from a British Prime Minister, which is to say that I have been entirely focused on our national interests and so I have implemented my principles and values throughout.’
UK Reform Leader Nigel Farage predicted Sir Keir’s trip would be a bad one, saying: ‘He upset the Americans, he upset the Cypriots, he upset the Gulf states, and that level of indecision, getting confused and changing your mind is quite extraordinary.’
And Tory Lord Kempsell said: ‘Starmer immediately flew to the Middle East to highlight his critical role in the US-Iran ceasefire, which he did not broker, did not know was approaching, did not participate in shaping and had no part in whatsoever.’
