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National Security ‘Can’t Come at the Expense of Social Security’ – Andy Burnham
Burnham said taking £4 billion from housing benefit would drive homelessness, while the government said defence spending must not come at the expense of social security.
During Prime Minister's Questions, Tory leader Kemi Badenoch challenged Prime Minister Andy Burnham on whether the Government would commit to raising defence spending to 3% of GDP by 2030, citing "serious threats to national security that cannot wait."
Last week, the Conservatives outlined plans to fund defence by redirecting £4 billion from reformed housing benefits and £3.1 billion through reimposing the two-child benefit cap, measures Badenoch supports to prioritize national security.
Burnham rejected the proposal, insisting "national security can't come at the expense of social security," and warned that cutting housing benefits would trigger mass homelessness affecting hundreds of thousands of children in temporary accommodation.
Badenoch also attacked the Government's decision to hand sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, questioning why the administration would commit £35 billion to that transfer while allegedly cutting funds for troop training.
The Government maintains it will reach 3.5% of GDP for defence by 2035, with Burnham arguing spending is set for 2.7% next year and urging cross-party cooperation rather than funding defence through cuts to social support.