Keir Starmer accused of being "weak" on Royal Navy defence spending in chaotic Greenland PMQs

Sir Keir Starmer said funding for the armed forces will continue to rise under Labour during heated debates during Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQs). Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch challenged the government’s support for the military, after doubts arose over adequate funding.

“The world is changing,” she told the House of Commons. “We’re in a very different place, the most dangerous international environment since the end of the Cold War. Last week, the head of the armed forces warned that our military faces a £28bn shortfall. Is he right?”

The prime minister responded: “I’m proud that we’re spending more on defence since the last Labour government. The Strategic Defence Review is backed by the biggest sustained increase in defence spending since The Cold War, that’s £270bn this parliament, making defence an engine of growth. Ben Wallace, the longest serving Conservative defence secretary, openly admitted that under their watch, the armed forces were hollowed out.”

Reports of a £28bn shortfall for Royal Navy, Army, and RAF reforms arose following a meeting between Sir Keir and Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Knighton. The CDS then stated to the defence select committee that the Strategic Defence Review - which outlined major reforms for the armed forces - could not be implemented under the current financial programme without changing current commitments. He added that costings will be set out in the Defence Investment Plan, which has been delayed since autumn.

Sir Keir also responded to US president Donald Trump’s comments on Greenland. The American leader doubled down on threats to annex the autonomous Danish territory.

“We probably won’t get anything unless I decide to use excessive strength and force, where we would be, frankly, unstoppable,” he told the World Economic Forum in the Swiss Alps. “But I won’t do that. I don’t have to use force, I don’t want to use force, I won’t use force.”

Addressing the situation, Sir Keir said: “My position is clear. The future of Greenland is for the people of Greenland and the Kingdom of Denmark alone. The threats of tariffs to pressurise allies are completely wrong.”

He added: “I will not yield. Britain will not yield on our principles and values about the future of Greenland under threats of tariffs.” Ms Badenoch said just as Greenland residents should decide their own future, why not those on the Chagos Islands.

The bill to transfer sovereignty of the island chain to Mauritius and lease it back for £101m is currently going through parliament. Its largest island, Diego Garcia, is home to a US-UK shared military base. Recent operations launched from there include attacks on Houthi targets in Yemen between 2024 and 2025.

The US position has changed on the agreement. In February 2025, Donald Trump expressed preliminary support for the deal, but U-turned on the opinion this week, describing it as “an act of great stupidity”.

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Sir Keir said: “President Trump deployed words on Chagos different to his previous words of welcome and support when I met him in the White House. He deployed those words for the express purpose of putting pressure on me, and Britain, regarding the future of Greenland. He wants me to yield, I’m not going to do so.”

Ms Badenoch said government is “weak” on the Chagos deal, funding the armed forces, and other matters. Speeches were regularly interrupted, with the speaker having to warn shadow defence secretary James Cartlidge and other Tory politicians about heckling the prime minister. Some Labour MPs were also given a stern telling off. Shadow transport secretary Richard Holden was later booted out of the House of Commons.

Sir Keir said: “I’ve spent the week working with our Nato allies to protect our national security and ensure we have unity in Nato. She has spent the week trying to hold together what’s left of the Tory party. A week ago, she was saying Greenland was a “second order issue”, then she flip-flopped with three different positions in ten days. She has failed to rise to the occasion and show unity in this house.”