Kemi Badenoch mocked for forces vow after 'hollowing out Britain's defences'

Kemi Badenoch mocked for forces vow after 'hollowing out Britain's defences'Labour Defence Minister Luke Pollard warned Britain would be 'in a war without a plan' under the Tories, over their backing of US/Israeli military action in IranCommentsNewsAlexander Brown Assistant Political Editor14:26, 11 Apr 2026View 2 ImagesKemi Badenoch was skewered over the Tory record(Image: Getty Images)Kemi Badenoch has been accused of hypocrisy after the Tories “hollowed out Britain’s defences”.‌The Tory leader had called for Britain to show allies like the US a willingness to “get our hands dirty” on defence commitments and undertake “the biggest peacetime programme of rearmament in our country’s history”.‌In a speech at the London Defence Conference, Ms Badenoch pledged “the largest net increase in British troops under any government since the Second World War” if they return to power, including recruiting 6,000 regular soldiers and 14,000 reservists.‌OPINIONTan DhesiTAN DHESI: 'Britain can't afford to drift as world gets more dangerous'Politics