'Vibes aren't enough': Burnham challenged over how to pay for UK defence

Labour’s Andy Burnham faced questions over how he plans to fund increased UK defence spending during his first Prime Minister's Questions. Despite his engaging demeanor, concerns were raised that "vibes alone will not be enough" to address security threats, especially from Russia. Defence Committee Chairman Tan Dhesi urged Burnham to commit to spending 3% of GDP on the armed forces by 2030, stating that investment in the military is crucial.

Burnham claimed he had made a commitment, likely referring to his broader pledge for increased defence spending and support for Ukraine. He also defended appointing former defence secretary John Healey as Chancellor, crediting Healey's commitment to defence. The debate was fueled by a report from the Resolution Foundation, which argued that Labour would need to raise taxes on middle earners to fund the 3.5% of GDP defense spending target by 2035.

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch pressed Burnham on cutting welfare spending to free up funds for defense and raising taxes again, to which Burnham refused to provide a budget commitment. During the exchange, Burnham discussed Anglo-French cooperation in migrant prevention and his meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron, who was visiting London to discuss Iran's impact on the Strait of Hormuz, migration, and Ukraine.

Burnham was scheduled to join Macron, Burnham, and King Charles III to view the Bayeux Tapestry at the British Museum.