𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

Nigel Farage warned Sir Keir Starmer has “failed in his primary duty” to protect Britain. The Reform UK leader hit out at Labour for throwing cash at the soaring benefits bill and the “mad net zero agenda” while defence is at the “bottom of the pile”.

His intervention comes as the Prime Minister is at the centre of a row over defence spending following the shock resignations of John Healey and Al Carns. But Mr Farage warned there would be “more Labour chaos” even if Sir Keir is replaced by Andy Burnham, who is eyeing a return to Westminster in the Makerfield by-election.

In a video on X, Mr Farage said: “Principled resignations in politics are rare but I think that’s what we saw yesterday from John Healey and Al Carns.

“They’re leaving because the Government will not commit to increase defence spending at a time when we’ve probably never been more under threat.

“The Government is happy to splurge vast amounts of money on disability benefits for those that don’t need them, tens of billons a year on a mad net zero agenda and much else, and yet defence has gone back to the bottom of the pile.

“And just think of it, our nuclear submarines aren’t working, it took us three weeks to send a single vessel to Cyprus at the outbreak of the Iran war.

“We are frankly defenceless, it’s a serious situation which means the Prime Minister has failed in his primary duty which is to protect the country.

“Starter’s premiership is over, it was even over before yesterday. But do remember this, they inherited defence that had been run down consistently over 14 years. The Tories cut defence spending, please don’t forget that.

“And I’d say to people if they were voting in a by-election in Makerfield next week, if you vote Burnham you’re voting for more Labour chaos so please think about it.”

It comes as the Prime Minister has insisted he would fight any leadership challenge out of “a sense of service and duty” and not “vanity” or “stubbornness”.

Sir Keir also defended his record on military funding following yesterday’s bombshell resignations.

He told the BBC: “I have taken the difficult decisions to make sure that we are safe as a country, because that is my number one priority.”