DAILY MAIL COMMENT: Kemi's defence plan, welfare cuts and a foolish-looking PM

See more Daily Mail on Google - save us as a Preferred Source Published: 19:47 EDT, 3 September 2026 | Updated: 19:55 EDT, 3 September 2026 For as long as he shirks his responsibilities on defence, Andy Burnham will find it impossible to be taken seriously at home or abroad.The Prime Minister's tin-eared response regarding the 2030 deadline for 3 per cent of GDP on military spending shows a worrying lack of political judgment. It also suggests that he fails to realise the gravity of the situation.By drawing up a costed plan to reach the 2030 target largely through savings on welfare, Kemi Badenoch has made the PM look very foolish indeed. Her blueprint serves as a reminder that a government's principal duty is to keep its citizens safe from foreign attack – not to indulge them from a seemingly endless reserve of benefits payments. The Prime Minister's tin-eared response regarding the 2030 deadline for 3 per cent of GDP on military spending shows a worrying lack of political judgmentNor should we underestimate the global perils faced by the West. Despite Diane Abbott's claim that any imminent threat from Russia is 'a Nato fiction', the dangers are very real indeed. The increasingly belligerent noises coming from the Kremlin suggest that they may be about to get worse.By rights, Mr Burnham should be mortified that the leader of the Opposition is trying to do his job for him. But it isn't too late for him to salvage something from this mess.In a sane world, the PM would swallow his pride, thank Mrs Badenoch for her hard work and implement her strategy without delay - but don't count on that happening any time soon.Unsafe asylumIt is entirely unsurprising that the majority of local objections to asylum accommodation sites come from people worried about the safety of women and girls.Even the Home Office acknowledged the scale of the threat by issuing a guidebook explaining to migrants that rape is a criminal offence under British law. Its publication followed the conviction of dozens of asylum seekers for sex attacks and other violent assaults on females. The recent case of Ibrahim Albashir – a Sudanese national who slashed his victim 30 times with a broken bottle in a frenzied attack described as having a 'sexual element' – is among the most disturbing to come before the courts.Meanwhile, the fact that the Government is attempting to cover up data about offenders from overseas – including a breakdown of nationality and crimes committed – will only fuel suspicions that there is something to hide.That Labour is allowing tens of thousands of unknown foreign nationals into Britain every year is bad enough. But foisting them on petrified residential communities around the country is unforgiveable.No 10 is still in sightEven Nigel Farage would most likely admit that he hasn't had a great few months.The Reform UK leader has already acknowledged appearing 'aggrieved' and 'ratty' as scrutiny of his finances intensified over the summer. Critics also accused him of losing credibility due to the Clacton by-election farce.Yet as his party conference gets underway, the desperate need for the Right to unite is clearer than ever. Nothing illustrates that better than a split vote between Reform and Restore Britain allowing the Greens to narrowly win a council seat in Dover last week.The prospect of similar scenarios playing out in a general election – which could happen next year – is unthinkable. In his speech today, Mr Farage has a chance to show that he is truly invested in becoming prime minister and ousting Mr Burnham's Left-wing administration from power.