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Evening Standard
· collected 2026-09-19 · by Press Association Political Staff
Rishi Sunak's Conservative Party leader Suella Braverman (referred to as Mrs Badenoch in the article) criticizes Labour Defence Secretary Wes Streeting for not adequately funding defense against Russian threats. Braverman accuses the government of failing to act decisively on promised military spending increases, contrasting this with actions taken by leaders in France and Poland. She calls for more substantial financial commitment to national security, arguing that the current approach sends a "dangerous" message to Russia about Britain's resolve.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-09-20,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Kemi Badenoch, leader of the Conservative Party in Britain, criticized Andy Burnham, accusing him of not taking sufficient action on defence spending amidst increasing threats from Russia. Badenoch told The Telegraph that while France and Poland are addressing the Russian threat proactively, there is no clear leadership or decisive action from the UK government. She emphasized that the UK has committed to spending 3.5% of its national income on defence by 2035 as per NATO commitments but currently only plans to reach 2.7% of GDP by 2027-28, with no concrete strategy for further increases. Badenoch also criticized Burnham's reluctance to cut welfare budgets to fund military spending, suggesting this sends a dangerous message to both domestic and international audiences, including Moscow.
Written for “UK Defence Spending Debate” on 2026-10-05,
grounded in this article and the 2 other(s) covering the same event.
The Tory leader said the Prime Minister should “get serious” and offer “proper” funding for defence while former military chiefs sounded the alarm over increasing threats faced by Britain.
asserted
chiefs → say → Britain
The UK has promised to commit 3.5% of national income on defence by 2035, in line with a pledge by Nato members.
asserted
UK → promise → members
The Government has budgeted to hike defence spending to 2.7% of GDP by 2027-28, but faces pressure to set out firm details on how further increases will be achieved beyond then.
asserted
increases → budget → details
“Our Government is fiddling while Europe is at risk of burning.
asserted
Europe → fiddle → burning
In France and Poland, leaders are taking action now against the growing Russian threat,” Mrs Badenoch told the Telegraph.
asserted
Badenoch → take → Telegraph
“What is our Government doing?
asserted
Government → do → What
Has anyone heard from Wes Streeting, the former head of the National Union of Students, who has rocked up as Defence Secretary?”
asserted
who → hear → Secretary
She added: “We have to stop pretending that we are living in a carefree end of history when Russia is testing our resolve week after week.
asserted
Russia → add → week
It’s time to get serious.”
asserted
It → ’ → ?
Mrs Badenoch said the Prime Minister was sending a “dangerous” message that he would not cut welfare to fund the military, which she said was “heard loud and clear in Moscow as well as Manchester”.
asserted
she → say → Manchester
The Tories have heightened their attacks over over welfare spending in recent days after Mr Burnham said national security cannot “come at the expense of social security”.
asserted
security → heighten → security
Downing Street insisted he was committed both to funding the military and bringing down the benefits bill, but not through “crude cuts”, following the remarks at Prime Minister’s Questions last week.
asserted
he → insist → Questions
Read More
“In many ways, one could argue we are already at war.
uncertain
we → read → war
We are certainly in the grey zone – whether it’s cyber attacks, drones getting near the edge of somewhere or threats to underwater cables,” he said.
asserted
he → ’ → cables
Urging Chancellor and former defence secretary John Healey to set out a path to 3.5% at the Budget, former chief of the general staff Lord Dannatt said: “My bottom line is that Andy Burnham, and regretfully I would now add John Healey, are playing fast and loose with the nation’s security.”
asserted
I → urge → security
Mrs Badenoch has said she would increase defence spending to 3% GDP by 2030 by slashing the welfare bill – a policy which the Prime Minister says would create “levels of homelessness” the country has never seen before.
asserted
country → say → homelessness
The Conservatives have proposed capping housing benefit to raise £4 billion to spend on defence and rejected suggestions the move would make people homeless but suggested some would have to “move somewhere cheaper.”
uncertain
some → propose → suggestions
A Foreign Office spokesperson said: “These threats from Russia are yet another attempt to distract from their barbaric invasion of Ukraine.
“
asserted
threats → say → Ukraine
“That’s why we have taken tough action to respond to Russia’s intensifying hostile activity against our continent – increasing defence spending, expelling intelligence officers, sanctioning the GRU, cracking down on illicit finance networks, and ensuring Russia’s criminal proxies are disrupted and brought to justice.
asserted
proxies → ’ → justice
“The UK is united with our allies on the importance of defending ourselves, and Russia’s aggression will not deter us from supporting Ukraine.”
asserted
aggression → unite → Ukraine
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