King Charles III welcomes Andy Burnham, during an audience at Buckingham Palace, London, where he in (Image: Aaron Chown/PA Wire)

Mr Burnham, who will fly to the Caribbean for the Commonwealth heads of government meeting (CHOGM), told The Guardian that he wanted to offer a “structured dialogue” with those affected by slavery, saying: “Listening to calls for a formal apology on behalf of the British state will form an important part of this process. I am open to them.”

He also expressed his personal “sorrow and regret”, while rejecting demands for reparations.

Asked by presenter Fraser Nelson that if the King gives an apology, would he then be wrong to do so, she added: “The King is the sovereign.

Kemi Badenoch (Image: Sky News)

Charles’s tour, designed to strengthen trade and diplomatic ties in the Caribbean, has, so far, widely been considered a success.

And he was already prepared to face a storm at the biannual CHOGM in Antigua, with campaigners warning him ‘not to come empty-handed’.

Last week, he visited Guyana and The Bahamas, where a reparations committee had urged him to issue a formal apology for the Crown’s “undeniable” links to slavery.

Andy Burnham Told to ‘Defend This Country for Once’ as He’s Skewered by Kemi Badenoch

British Prime Minister Andy Burnham has come under fresh political pressure after Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch launched a fierce attack on his approach to national defence and government spending. The heated exchange has reignited a major debate about whether Britain is doing enough to protect itself against growing international threats or whether the government is placing too much emphasis on welfare spending at the expense of military preparedness.

Badenoch’s criticism comes at a time when security concerns across Europe are increasing. Russia’s continuing aggression against Ukraine, growing tensions between major powers and concerns about the vulnerability of critical infrastructure have prompted NATO members to reconsider their military capabilities. Against this background, the Conservative leader believes that Britain must take a tougher approach to defence spending and ensure that the armed forces have the resources necessary to respond to potential threats.

The controversy centres on Burnham’s previous comments that national security cannot come at the expense of social security. While the Prime Minister argues that protecting the country requires strong communities and a functioning welfare system, Badenoch believes that his position risks sending the wrong message at a dangerous time.

In her criticism, Badenoch has effectively challenged Burnham to put national defence first. She argues that Britain cannot afford to delay difficult decisions when other European countries are strengthening their military capabilities. Her message is that defending the country should be one of the government’s most fundamental responsibilities, particularly when intelligence assessments suggest that Russia could pose a serious threat to NATO members in the coming years.

During their parliamentary exchanges, Badenoch repeatedly questioned the Prime Minister about when Britain would increase defence spending to three per cent of gross domestic product. She argued that the government needed to provide a clear timetable rather than relying on longer-term promises. From her perspective, military preparedness requires immediate action rather than political assurances about what might happen in the future.

Burnham, however, defended the government’s position by insisting that national security and social security should not be treated as competing priorities. He believes that a country cannot remain secure if large sections of its population experience poverty, unemployment and social instability. In his view, strong public services and resilient communities are also important elements of national security.

This disagreement reflects two different approaches to government spending. The Conservatives argue that additional resources should be directed towards defence, even if this requires reducing certain welfare expenditures. Labour, meanwhile, maintains that economic and social stability are essential to the country’s overall resilience. The disagreement is therefore not simply about military budgets but also about the wider responsibilities of government.

One of Badenoch’s strongest criticisms concerns the level of welfare spending. She has accused Labour of becoming too dependent on government benefits and has argued that the country needs to reduce its welfare bill to create more room for defence investment. She believes that some welfare programmes should be reconsidered so that more public money can be directed towards military equipment, personnel and national security.

The Conservative leader has also suggested that Britain should increase defence spending to three per cent of GDP by 2030. Her argument is that waiting until later in the next decade could leave the country insufficiently prepared for a rapidly changing international security environment. She has pointed to developments in countries such as Poland and France, where governments have been taking steps to strengthen their defence capabilities.

Burnham has responded by maintaining the previous commitment to increase defence spending to 3.5 per cent of national income by 2035, in line with the wider NATO defence and security spending framework. However, the government has not provided the immediate timetable Badenoch is demanding for reaching the three per cent target.

This has created a political vulnerability for the Prime Minister. Defence spending is an issue on which governments are expected to demonstrate clear leadership, particularly when the public is concerned about international instability. If ministers cannot explain how their long-term commitments will be funded, opposition parties can question whether those promises are realistic.

Nevertheless, increasing military expenditure is not a straightforward decision. Defence budgets compete with other major areas of public spending, including healthcare, education, housing and social protection. A substantial increase in military funding would require either higher taxation, additional borrowing, reductions in other budgets or stronger economic growth. Each option carries financial and political consequences.

There is also an important question about how additional defence funding would actually be used. Britain needs modern military equipment, advanced technology, trained personnel and reliable infrastructure. Investment in drones, cyber capabilities, intelligence systems, air defence and naval protection may be just as important as increasing the number of soldiers. Simply announcing a larger budget does not automatically guarantee a stronger military.

The British armed forces have faced recruitment and retention challenges in recent years. Many military personnel have raised concerns about accommodation, equipment shortages, working conditions and the difficulty of maintaining sufficient numbers of trained staff. These problems cannot necessarily be solved overnight, even if the government commits additional money.

Another issue is the relationship between defence and the wider economy. A stronger military requires a sustainable industrial base capable of producing equipment, maintaining technology and supplying essential materials. Investment in British defence manufacturing could create employment opportunities while improving national security. However, developing these capabilities takes time and requires long-term planning.

Burnham’s argument about social security also deserves consideration. Poverty, homelessness and inadequate access to healthcare can create social problems that affect national resilience. In times of crisis, governments need communities that can support one another, maintain essential services and respond effectively to emergencies. Therefore, social spending and national defence are not necessarily unrelated areas of government policy.

However, critics argue that the government must make difficult choices when public resources are limited. They believe that the scale of international threats means defence should receive greater priority and that some welfare spending should be reduced where possible. Badenoch’s position reflects this argument, although the precise savings and their practical effects would need to be examined carefully.

The debate also has wider implications for Britain’s role within NATO. As one of the alliance’s major military powers, the United Kingdom is expected to contribute to collective security and support other members if they face external aggression. Meeting NATO spending commitments is therefore important not only for Britain’s national defence but also for its international credibility.

At the same time, the government must explain how its defence commitments can be achieved without creating unnecessary economic instability. Excessive borrowing could increase the national debt, while significant welfare cuts could place additional pressure on vulnerable households. The challenge is to establish a funding strategy that addresses security needs while maintaining economic and social stability.

For Badenoch, the confrontation provides an opportunity to present the Conservatives as a party focused on national security and stronger military investment. For Burnham, it is an opportunity to defend the government’s broader understanding of national resilience and demonstrate that protecting citizens involves more than military spending alone.

Ultimately, voters will want clear answers rather than political slogans. They will need to know how much Britain plans to spend on defence, when the promised increases will happen, which military capabilities will receive investment and how the government intends to pay for them. They will also want reassurance that essential public services will not be weakened unnecessarily.

In conclusion, Kemi Badenoch’s attack on Andy Burnham has exposed a significant disagreement about Britain’s priorities at a time of growing international uncertainty. The Conservative leader believes that defence must take priority over certain welfare commitments, while the Prime Minister argues that national security cannot be separated from social stability. Both positions raise important questions about the country’s future, particularly as NATO members face increasing pressure to strengthen their military capabilities. Ultimately, Britain’s security will depend on more than political arguments in Parliament. It will require realistic budgets, effective leadership, modern equipment, trained personnel and a long-term strategy capable of protecting the country while maintaining the wellbeing of its citizens.

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