Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch and Prime Minister Keir Starmer clashed sharply at the first Prime Minister’s Questions of the year, trading accusations over defence policy, Ukraine, Greenland and relations with the United States.
Badenoch urged Starmer to urgently hold talks with Nato leaders, including US President Donald Trump, over reports that the US was considering options to acquire Greenland, potentially by military means, as well as Washington’s actions in Venezuela.
She argued that the UK must show leadership and clarity at a time of rising global tensions.
In response, Starmer said he would “of course” speak to Trump, noting that he had already spoken to him twice over the Christmas break and recently engaged with senior US envoys in Paris.
He added that discussions would include plans to deploy British troops to Ukraine in the event of a peace deal with Russia, stressing that MPs would have the chance to debate and vote on any deployment.
The exchange grew more heated as Badenoch accused the government of having a disgraceful approach to the armed forces, claiming Labour prioritised welfare spending over defence. She warned that any troop deployment to Ukraine carried serious risks and insisted soldiers must know the country has their backs.
Starmer dismissed her criticism, saying the government was delivering the biggest sustained increase in defence spending since the Cold War and accusing previous Conservative governments of hollowing out the armed forces.
He also defended reforms to Northern Ireland legacy legislation, saying his government was pursuing a fair and transparent process while supporting veterans.
The PM concluded by saying 2026 would be a turning point, promising that people would soon feel the benefits of government decisions.
