By Emmanuel Nduka
In a heated exchange on Wednesday, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer took aim at Tory leader Kemi Badenoch, mocking her as a “self-appointed saviour of Western civilisation” in response to her claims about government spending.
The confrontation unfolded during a plenary session when Badenoch, in an attempt to criticize Starmer, boasted that the Prime Minister had accepted her suggestion to cut the aid budget.
She also questioned the accuracy of the government’s defence spending figures, after Starmer announced a £13.4 billion increase in defence spending.
Badenoch stated, “Over the weekend, I advised the Prime Minister to cut the aid budget, and I’m pleased he accepted my advice. It’s the quickest response I’ve had from him.” She then questioned the details of the defence spending boost, saying, “This morning, his defence secretary claimed the increase was only £6bn. Which figure is accurate?”
In a sharp rebuttal, Starmer dismissed Badenoch’s claims, sarcastically describing her as a figure trying too hard to remain relevant. “I’m afraid I must let the Leader of the Opposition down gently. She didn’t factor into my thinking at all. I was so busy over the weekend, I didn’t even see her proposal,” he quipped.
He continued, “She’s taken it upon herself to become the saviour of Western civilisation. It’s a desperate search for relevance. If you compare the numbers for this financial year with those for 2027/28, the £13.4bn increase is the largest sustained boost in defence spending since the Cold War.”
The Prime Minister’s fiery remarks drew laughter across the House, including from Badenoch herself, who appeared to take the criticism in stride.
