Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch giving a speech on defence
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has accused the prime minister of "kicking defence spending into the long grass" as she set out Tory plans to push the figure to 3% of GDP by 2030.
Badenoch said a Conservative government would fund the commitment, worth £10bn a year, through measures including reimposing the two-child benefit cap, reforming housing benefit and ending VAT exemptions for Motability cars.
Pointing to the threat from countries like Russia and Iran, Badenoch told a press conference: "Conflict is coming, we must act now."
So far Andy Burnham's government has only committed to setting out a plan in the spring to meet the Nato target of spending 3.5% of GDP on defence by 2035.
Speaking at an event in central London, Badenoch said: "Andy Burnham is kicking defence spending into the long grass.
"Our enemies are not going to sit around and wait for Labour to find the money to fight them."
Burnham has pointed to his choice of Chancellor, John Healey, who quit as defence secretary in June over the last government's failure to commit to a 3% increase, as proof of his commitment to defence investment.
However, Badenoch said the prime minister should call a general election if he is not willing to find the money now, adding that Healey's decision to quit over defence spending appeared to have changed since he became chancellor.
"He resigned because Britain was not on track to reach 3% by 2030 and I praised him at the time for that decision," she said.
"Now that he is chancellor he does not seem to believe that any more and I am concerned he has been bought off with a promotion."
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Badenoch repeated existing Conservative plans to fund an increase in defence spending, including by reimposing the two-child benefit cap.
