Kemi Badenoch warns 'conflict is coming' as she vows to use major benefit clampdown to get Britain war ready - and tells Burnham to call an election if he can't do the same

See more Daily Mail on Google - save us as a Preferred Source Published: 06:30 EDT, 3 September 2026 | Updated: 07:23 EDT, 3 September 2026 Kemi Badenoch warned Britain could be at war with Russia within four years, as she vowed to fund a major military cash boost with a massive benefits clampdown.The Conservative leader warned that 'conflict is coming, we must act now' as she outlined party plans to take billions from welfare and use it to rebuild the UK's ability to defend itself.She also hit out at PM Andy Burnham's focus on domestic social issues since taking power, warning that he 'cannot defend us by capping bus fares'.In a major speech this morning, Mrs Badenoch said that her party would bring back the two-child benefit cap lifted in April by Labour, as well as reducing disability benefits.And she challenged Mr Burnham to call an early general election if he could not provide the money needed.'Our enemies are not going to sit around and wait for Labour to find the money to fight them', she said.'Within the next four years the UK could be at war with the world's biggest nuclear-armed state.' Her speech came after Mr Burnham was warned by members of his own party that he needs to offer more than just 'vibes' in defence of the nation. The Conservative leader warned that 'conflict is coming, we must act now' as she outlined party plans to take billions from welfare and use it to rebuild the UK's abvility to defend itself She hit out at PM Andy Burnham's focus on domestic social issues since taking power, warning that he 'cannot defend us by capping bus fares'Tan Dhesi, Labour chairman of the cross-party Commons defence committee, accused him of 'kicking the can down the road' by deferring a decision on defence spending until next year's comprehensive spending review. In a bruising intervention, Mr Dhesi also warned that Mr Burnham's trademark optimistic bluster would not be enough to keep Britain safe. He told the PM it was 'imperative that we invest in our Armed Forces in the here and now'. Chancellor John Healey resigned from his previous job as defence secretary in June over Sir Keir Starmer's refusal to commit to the 3 per cent target, saying it was the minimum needed to keep Britain safe. But neither he nor Mr Burnham are now willing to say whether they will find the money to boost Britain's cash-strapped Armed Forces.The Prime Minister ducked the issue again yesterday, despite fresh threats from Russia and pressure from his own MPs.