Badenoch accuses Starmer of leaving defence spending 'mess' for Burnham as they clash at PMQs

Key Points:

• At Prime Minister's Questions, Keir Starmer defended his defence investment plan amid criticism from Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch, who claimed a £5bn shortfall exists and called for welfare cuts to fund defence.
• Starmer argued that the plan represents the biggest sustained increase in defence spending in 40 years and dismissed claims of inadequacy by highlighting previous Conservative cuts and increased welfare spending under their government.
• The £28bn shortfall figure cited by Badenoch originates from media reports of a classified meeting with the Chief of the Defence Staff, who did not confirm the number and described it as speculation.
• Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey raised concerns about rising racist violence and called for improved missile defence systems, criticizing the funding levels in Starmer's defence plan.
• Keir Starmer announced his resignation on 22 June, with Andy Burnham expected to succeed him as Labour leader and prime minister in mid-July, meaning Starmer has potentially only two or three PMQs remaining.