Kemi Badenoch Accuses UK Government of Inaction on Hybrid Warfare

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch accused the UK government of failing to address cyberattack threats and hybrid warfare, asserting that the country is already "at war." She criticized Chancellor John Healey for not committing to spend 3% of GDP on defense in the recent Budget and dismissed current government stockpiling advice as insufficient to protect against drone or nuclear missile attacks.

Defence Minister Luke Pollard responded by questioning why the Conservatives reduced the army to its smallest size since the Napoleonic Wars during their 14-year tenure, suggesting the armed forces were left "hollowed out and underfunded."

Amidst this political dispute, the UK government launched the "Be Ready" campaign. The three-year initiative urges households to stockpile three days of essential supplies and locate critical utility isolation valves and switches to prepare for service disruptions caused by extreme weather or other emergencies.