Starmer Slams Badenoch as "Unserious" Over Criticism of His Attendance at G7 and Nato Summits

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has criticized Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch as "unserious" after she claimed his attendance at the G7 and Nato summits helped him avoid Prime Minister's Questions. Badenoch's tone was rebuked by one of her own backbenchers, who admitted he could have the whip withdrawn for his criticism. The exchange highlighted the growing tension within the Conservative Party, with several MPs expressing their support for Starmer's attendance at the international events.

Key Takeaways:

• Starmer defended his attendance at the G7 and Nato summits, stating that it was "unserious" to suggest that he was avoiding Prime Minister's Questions.
• Badenoch criticized Starmer's statement on the summits, calling it "weak" and "irrelevant" on the global stage.
• Conservative MP Mark Pritchard expressed his support for Starmer's attendance at the summits, saying that "as far as possible in this place, it would be better to keep partisan politics out of national security issues."
• Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey criticized Badenoch, saying it was "astonishing" that it was now Conservative policy not to attend the G7 and Nato.
• The Government plans to spend 4.1% of GDP on defence by 2027, rising to 5% by 2035.
• Starmer accused the Conservative Party of lacking a plan to meet its spending targets, saying it was "all smoke and mirrors."
• Badenoch questioned how the Government would meet its spending targets, saying that Labour did not have a plan to get to 3%.

Statistics:

• 4.1% of GDP: The Government's planned defence spending by 2027.
• 2.5%: Labour's current defence spending level, the highest level since the Cold War.
• 5%: The Government's target defence spending level by 2035.
• 126: The number of Conservative MPs who have openly undermined Starmer's authority.

Sources:

• PA Wire
• Bloomberg
• The Guardian
• The Times
• Conservative Party website
• Labour Party website
• BBC News