Badenoch Slams Starmer's Global Role, Sparking Clash in Commons

Kemi Badenoch criticized Keir Starmer's performance on the global stage following his return from the NATO summit. She and the Prime Minister clashed in the Commons during a statement on the G7 in Canada and the NATO meeting in The Hague. Badenoch described Starmer's statement as weak and characterized it as "noises off." She expressed concern that Britain was no longer a strategic player on the global stage.

Badenoch further stated that Britain had been out of step with the US and out of the loop with Israel regarding recent events in the Middle East. She accused the Prime Minister of being "irrelevant on the world stage" and "impotent" in addressing issues like illegal immigration. She also noted the internal challenges faced by the government, citing the undermining of the Prime Minister's authority by a significant number of his own MPs.

Sir Keir responded by calling Badenoch "unserious" for suggesting his attendance at the foreign summits was a way to avoid Prime Minister's Questions. He emphasized the importance of working with allies and taking a serious approach to global issues. He highlighted the significance of the NATO summit and Britain's central role in shaping its outcome. He expressed pride in the summit's success and the resulting increase in global safety.

Sir Keir accused Badenoch and her party of becoming irrelevant, pointing out their loss of seriousness and ability to achieve cross-party consensus on important issues. The discussion also included the government's plans to increase defense spending, with the aim of reaching 5% of GDP by 2035. Sir Keir suggested this would necessitate a significant realignment of national security and economic policies.