Keir Starmer’s new defence plan had been criticized by the opposition leaders in PMQ today.
During the Prime Minister’s Questions PMQs session held on July 1, 2026, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch engaged in a heated parliamentary clash with Prime Minister Keir Starmer regarding the government’s recent defence policies.
The UK’s prime minister argued that the Defence Investment Plan DIP is the biggest funding increase for defence in 40 years, and says the Tories “hollowed out” the armed forces across their time in government
In return, Badenoch said the money needed for the plan should come from cuts to welfare spending and asks if Andy Burnham, likely to be the next PM, has “agreed to fund the shortfall”
Starmer, defending the plans, says Labour is leaving the UK “better than we found it”
As reported by BBC, Keir Starmer was forced on the defensive in the Commons over his long-delayed defence investment plan announced this week, which critics argue leaves his successor as prime minister, expected to be Andy Burnham, with an extra £4.7bn to find in his first budget.
Starmer defended his £298bn DIP at prime minister’s questions on Wednesday despite a growing backlash from insiders in Burnham’s team and from ministers and MPs resentful over cuts to key transport infrastructure projects to fund it.
Overall, defence spending will rise from 2.6% of GDP in 2027 to 2.7%, or nearly £80bn, by 2030. Starmer said that would put the UK “on a trajectory” to hit 3% in the next parliament, although it remains well below a Nato target of 3.5% by 2035.
The opposition leader argued that the government’s approach has left Britain vulnerable and criticized the delay in delivering long-promised defence decisions.
The session highlighted deep divisions between the government and the opposition regarding how to balance the security budget with other pressing economic priorities such as welfare and tax reforms.
