How was Kemi Badenoch’s first PMQs?
Ms Badenoch used her first PMQs session to launch a misleading attack on the Government over defence spending.
The new Tory leader, who took charge of the warring party days earlier, told MPs there was nothing in the new Budget on defence spending. In fact Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced an additional £2.9billion for the Ministry of Defence and said the Government would “set a path” to spending 2.5% of GDP on defending the country.
Ms Badenoch told the Commons: “His Chancellor’s Budget did not even mention defence. The Chancellor’s budget last week was a copy and paste of Bidenomics. It turns out that a high spending, high borrowing, high inflation approach is less popular than she may have thought.”
The PM shot back: “The one thing I learned as leader of the opposition it is a good idea to listen to what the Government is actually saying. I think she said defence wasn’t mentioned in the Budget.
“It was seven days ago and it is absolutely clear and central to the Budget.” He said that the Government is committed to bringing defence spending to 2.5% – and pointed out that the last time this was achieved was under the last Labour government.