'Step up and spend more!' Kevin Hollinrake tears into Keir Starmer after 'disgraceful' rejection of cross-party defence offer

Georgia Pearce
Wed, 15 Apr 2026 11:58:08 +0000

Kevin Hollinrake has launched a scathing attack on the Labour Government's approach to defence spending, branding the Prime Minister's rejection of cross-party cooperation as "disgraceful".

Speaking to GB News, the Conservative Party Chairman revealed that Tory leader Kemi Badenoch had extended an olive branch to Keir Starmer during Monday's Commons session, proposing joint efforts to boost military funding through welfare budget reforms.

"That offer was immediately rejected. I think it's disgraceful," Mr Hollinrake declared.

The Conservative Chairman emphasised the urgent need to increase defence expenditure, arguing that while the previous Tory administration consistently met Nato's two per cent GDP requirement, current global circumstances demand significantly higher investment.

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"There's no doubt today we need to spend more," he stated.

Mr Hollinrake outlined how the Conservatives would fund their proposed defence boost, pointing to substantial cuts in the welfare system.

The party claims it has identified £23billion in annual savings by overhauling how individuals access support for low-level mental health conditions and reintroducing face-to-face assessments.

"The welfare budget is far too high," Mr Hollinrake said, adding that "much of that needs to be invested in defence, there's no question about it."

The chairman argued that reducing Government expenditure elsewhere was essential to freeing up resources for military spending.

He maintained that the Conservatives had already laid groundwork during their time in office, commissioning new naval vessels and investing in drone technology, whilst consistently meeting the Nato spending threshold.

The Conservatives are pushing for defence spending to reach three per cent of GDP by the end of this Parliament, a target Hollinrake insists Labour has failed to match.

He noted that during the past 15 years, the Tories had legislated to increase military expenditure to 2.5 per cent of GDP, with ambitions to go further still.

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"We're in a completely different world from when Keir Starmer took over the running of this country in July 2024," Mr Hollinrake warned.

The chairman accused the Prime Minister of failing to adapt to shifting geopolitical realities, demanding that Starmer "step up and spend more on defence today".

He also criticised the Labour leader's reluctance to accept accountability, stating: "Keir Starmer never takes responsibility for anything."

Mr Hollinrake drew sharp contrasts between the current administration and the Conservative Government's response to the Ukraine crisis, arguing that the Tories demonstrated decisive leadership in 2021 and 2022 when supporting Zelensky against Russian aggression.

"I do not see the same backbone, the same decisiveness from Keir Starmer," he said.

The Conservative Chairman also highlighted criticism from within Labour's own ranks, noting that Lord George Robertson, the former Nato Secretary General and Labour Defence Secretary, had taken aim at Sir Keir for prioritising welfare over military spending.

He concluded: "Lord George Robertson, former secretary general of Nato, former Labour defence secretary, has criticised Keir Starmer for spending too much on welfare and not spending enough on defence. We agree with that.

"We're willing to work cross-party with the Government to be able to deliver the right amount of money going into defence. That's what we need to do today."