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Kemi BadenochConservative PartyDefence

Spend 3% of GDP on defence by 2030

“We need to increase our defence spending every year so we can get to 3% of GDP by 2030.”

PromisedSpeech on defence and welfare, 3 Sep 2026Quote checked word for word at its source on 20 October 2026
  1. Promised

Where it stands

The Conservatives are not in government, so the card stays at Promised. In the same speech she says the party has found an extra £10 billion a year for the armed forces from welfare cuts, savings from the Chagos deal and money moved from the British Business Bank; her news release of 24 September lists the welfare savings. "By 2030" is recorded as a deadline of 31 December 2030.

What has happened

  1. Sep 2026Kemi Badenoch says defence spending must rise every year to reach 3% of GDP by 2030, and sets out how the party would pay for it, Promised
  2. Dec 20303% of GDP on defence due by 2030 (editorial date), Deadline

About the cost

The party's own figure is an extra £10 billion a year for the armed forces. No official or independent costing has been published.

More detail

Sources (2)
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