Andy Burnham Rules Out Slashing Welfare Budget To Boost Defence Spending

Andy Burnham ruled out slashing the welfare budget to boost defence spending as he clashed at PMQs with Kemi Badenoch.

The Tory leader demanded to know if the government will spend 3% of gross domestic product (GDP) on the military by 2030, on its way to achieving the Nato target of spending 3.5% by 2035.

John Healey quit as defence secretary in June over Keir Starmer’s failure to commit to the 3% target – but has so far refused to commit to doing so now that he is chancellor.

Badenoch has said a Conservative government would find the extra cash by cutting housing benefit.

But Burnham told her “that would create levels of homelessness in this country that we wouldn’t have seen before – hundreds of thousands of children in temporary accommodation”.

He added: We do everything to support national security, but it can’t come at the expense of social security.

“Having strong national security also depends upon having resilience in our communities.

“This side of the house will not be forced to choose between the two, and we will set out a plan to get to 3.5% by 2035 at the spending review.”

A Conservative spokesman said: “Britain heard it loud and clear today: Andy Burnham will not cut welfare to fund the defence of our country.

“The prime minister is prioritising the ballooning benefits bill over our national security. Shameful.

“This is not leadership, it is surrender. Worse still, it’s exactly what has come before. Burnham really is nothing more than Continuity Keir.”

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