British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has dismissed Tory leader Kemi Badenoch’s assertion that he followed her advice on cutting the UK aid budget, calling her a “self-appointed saviour of Western civilisation.”
What Happened?
During a parliamentary session on Wednesday, Badenoch claimed that Starmer acted on her suggestion to reduce foreign aid spending. She also questioned the government’s defence budget figures, pointing out inconsistencies in the announced increase.
Starmer, however, flatly denied her influence, responding with sarcasm:
“I’m going to have to let the leader of the opposition down gently. She didn’t feature in my thinking at all. I was so busy over the weekend I didn’t even see her proposal.”
He further mocked her political stance, saying:
“She’s appointed herself, I think, the saviour of Western civilisation. It’s a desperate search for relevance.”
The Bigger Picture
Starmer clarified that the £13.4bn defence budget increase was the largest sustained rise since the Cold War, despite Badenoch questioning the figures. His response sparked laughter in the House, with even Badenoch seen smiling at the exchange.
What’s Next?
With tensions between Labour and the Tories heating up, Starmer and Badenoch are likely to clash further as debates over UK spending and defence policy continue.
