In a letter to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, Kemi Badenoch urges an increase in defence spending to 2.5% of GDP amid growing geopolitical tensions, especially concerning Russia.
In a significant call for action, Kemi Badenoch, the Conservative leader, has urged Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to urgently increase defence spending amid rising geopolitical tensions, particularly concerning Russia’s actions in Ukraine. This plea comes on the eve of critical discussions between Sir Keir Starmer and US President Donald Trump, scheduled for Thursday.
In a letter addressed to the Prime Minister, Badenoch has emphasised the pressing need to enhance Britain’s military capabilities, suggesting that the current defence spending should rise to at least 2.5% of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). She articulated her concerns by stating, “Putin’s Russia poses an existential threat to the entire European order.” Badenoch contends that the recent months should have been utilised to ramp up domestic defence production, including the procurement of munitions and equipment, which she notes requires substantial lead time.
Highlighting the urgency of the situation, she expressed, “There is no time for further delay.” Badenoch has indicated her willingness to support any necessary but potentially contentious budgetary reallocations in order to prioritise national security. She proposed that funding currently dedicated to welfare and foreign aid could be redirected to strengthen the UK’s defence capabilities, specifically questioning whether the 0.5% of GDP allocated for overseas development could be repurposed for this purpose.
Furthermore, she pointed out the need for immediate action before the upcoming meeting with Trump, arguing that “these decisions cannot be delayed.” In addition to defence spending, Badenoch addressed what she sees as a critical diplomatic issue, urging Sir Keir to reconsider his government’s stance on the Chagos Islands, which involves negotiations that could result in substantial financial payouts to Mauritius by British taxpayers.
She concluded her correspondence with a strong message: “I will always back you when you do the right thing. But I will not be silent about the risks facing our country and our security.” Badenoch’s firm stance underlines the Conservatives’ commitment to addressing defence and security as paramount issues against the backdrop of an increasingly volatile international landscape.
Source: Noah Wire Services
- https://news.sky.com/story/kemi-badenoch-says-failing-to-spend-more-on-defence-is-not-peacekeeping-it-is-weakness-13311374 – This article supports Kemi Badenoch’s call for increased defence spending, highlighting her comments on the need to strengthen military capabilities in the face of geopolitical tensions.
- https://www.the-independent.com/news/uk/politics/starmer-trump-russia-ukraine-defence-b2702123.html – This article corroborates the pressure on Sir Keir Starmer to boost defence spending ahead of his meeting with Donald Trump, emphasizing the geopolitical context involving Russia and Ukraine.
- https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2025/02/22/keir-starmer-could-fast-track-spending-boost-for-defence/ – This article provides insight into Sir Keir Starmer’s considerations for accelerating defence spending increases, aligning with Badenoch’s urgency for action.
- https://www.vacourts.gov/courts/scv/rulesofcourt.pdf – This document does not directly relate to the article’s content but is included as it pertains to legal procedures, which might be relevant in broader discussions of government actions and policies.
- https://www.courts.michigan.gov/49008a/siteassets/publications/benchbooks/evidence/evidbb.pdf – Similar to the Virginia court rules, this document does not directly support the article’s claims but provides legal context that could be relevant in discussions of policy and governance.
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
0
Notes:
The narrative references Sir Keir Starmer as Prime Minister and a meeting with Donald Trump, which is outdated. Keir Starmer is the leader of the Labour Party, not the Prime Minister, and Donald Trump is no longer in office.
Quotes check
Score:
8
Notes:
The quotes appear to be original to this context, but without further verification, it’s difficult to confirm their first use. The quotes seem to reflect a plausible political stance.
Source reliability
Score:
8
Notes:
The narrative originates from a well-known publication, the Express, which generally provides reliable news. However, the content includes political opinions and may reflect a specific bias.
Plausability check
Score:
4
Notes:
The claims about increasing defence spending and geopolitical tensions are plausible, but the specific details about meetings and roles are not accurate due to outdated information.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): FAIL
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH
Summary:
The narrative contains outdated information regarding political roles and meetings, which significantly impacts its accuracy. While the source is generally reliable, the content’s freshness and plausibility are compromised.
