By Toba Owojaiye
Abuja, Nigeria
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer delivered a sharp rebuke to Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch during a parliamentary session on Wednesday, dismissing her as a “self-appointed saviour of Western civilisation” in a scathing exchange that drew laughter from MPs.
The heated debate unfolded as Badenoch took credit for influencing Starmer’s recent decision to cut the aid budget while also challenging the government’s defence spending figures.
“Over the weekend, I suggested to the prime minister that he cut the aid budget, and I am pleased that he accepted my advice. It’s the fastest response I’ve ever had from the prime minister,” she said. She then pointed out inconsistencies in defence spending figures, noting that while Starmer had announced a £13.4 billion increase, Defence Secretary John Healey later stated the uplift was only £6 billion.
Starmer swiftly dismissed her claim, making it clear that her input had no bearing on his policy decisions.
“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 retorted. He then took a direct swipe at Badenoch’s political positioning, adding, “She’s appointed herself, I think, the saviour of Western civilisation. It’s a desperate search for relevance.”
Defending his government’s figures, Starmer explained, “If you take the numbers for this financial year, and then the numbers for financial year 27/28, that’s a £13.4 billion increase—the largest sustained increase in defence spending since the Cold War.”
His pointed remarks triggered laughter across the House, with even Badenoch seen smiling at the exchange.
The clash unearths the growing friction between the ruling Labour government and the newly elected Conservative leadership, as Badenoch seeks to position herself as a formidable opponent ahead of the next general election. While Starmer’s dismissal of her influence played well within Parliament, Badenoch’s supporters argue she is successfully forcing Labour to respond to key policy issues, particularly on aid and defence.
With both leaders sharpening their attacks, this latest exchange sets the stage for an increasingly combative political landscape in Westminster.