Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has accused Prime Minister Andy Burnham of "kicking defence spending into the long grass" as she outlined Tory plans to raise the figure to 3% of GDP by 2030.
Ms Badenoch stated that a Conservative government would fund this £10bn annual commitment through measures such as reimposing the two-child benefit cap, reforming housing benefit, and ending VAT exemptions for Motability cars. She cited threats from countries like Russia and Iran, telling a press conference, "Conflict is coming, we must act now."
The current government, led by Andy Burnham, has so far only committed to setting out a plan in the spring to achieve the NATO target of spending 3.5% of GDP on defence by 2035. Ms Badenoch argued that Mr Burnham should call a general election if he is unwilling to secure the necessary funds now.
She also questioned Chancellor John Healey's current stance on defence spending, noting his previous resignation as defence secretary in June over the last government's failure to commit to a 3% increase. Ms Badenoch suggested that Mr Healey's position appeared to have changed since his promotion.
The Conservative leader denied that reimposing the two-child benefit cap, which was scrapped by Labour in April, would increase child poverty. She stated that the final part of her party's plans to reach the 3% defence spending target had been completed, including saving at least £4bn through housing benefit reforms and £1bn by removing the VAT exemption for Motability vehicles.