Kemi Badenoch Proposes Defense Hike and Slams Nigel Farage

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch announced a policy to increase defense spending to 3% of GDP by 2029-30. The proposal would be funded by £10 billion in savings, primarily sourced from local housing allowances and social security. Badenoch cited threats from Russia as the driver for the urgency of the spending and criticized Prime Minister Andy Burnham and Keir Starmer for delaying defense targets.

During the same period, Badenoch accused Reform UK leader Nigel Farage of authoritarianism after his party banned several journalists from its conference. She specifically pointed to the ban of Guardian City editor Anna Isaac, who had reported on an undeclared £5 million gift Farage received from billionaire Christopher Harborne. Badenoch argued that these actions suggest Farage would use state power to target political opponents if in government.

Badenoch also addressed a proposal to bar non-UK nationals from social housing. She rejected claims that the policy would mirror the Windrush scandal, asserting that administrative lessons from that event have been learned.