Second occasion for Andy Burnham to be up against Kemi Badenoch. It was a more unusual atmosphere last week. It was almost bordering on friendly at times. But we will see how it goes today. Maybe they were just sussing each other out. And of course we never quite know what topics are going to be raised. One of the big stories, of course, this week has been the announcement from Ed Miliband, the foreign secretary, announcing sanctions on illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank. Let's have a look at the reaction that there was from the chief rabbi. He said that it was truly a dark day for British Jews. He said today our government has chosen to ignore the deep concerns expressed by so many of us. And he says the measures announced amount to little more than political flag-waving for mendacious anti-Israel rhetoric. And I want to put that point to you, Tom, that reaction from the chief rabbi.
I see it very differently. What you have is Ed Miliband and Andy Burnham taking a stand. They've got a view. They, as a government, have a choice. They can continue to see the expansion of the settlements. They can see E1 cutting up the heart of the Palestinian territory. They can keep...
That's the area where they're building more settlements.
That's right. Or they can call it out. And I think in calling it out, we're not just taking a stand. We're also trying to use our influence to keep alive that dream of a two-state solution. I understand that some Jewish people will feel like the possibility of a two-state solution is further away. I fully understand why they feel that way, but we have to hold that hope.
Well, I mean, obviously, I absolutely condemn the settler violence and the expansionism in the West Bank. That goes without saying. But I do worry that, one, actually, the sanctions they're going to impose is going to have an effect on all Israelis and all Palestinians who are living in the area. Two, actually, I think it sets back our diplomatic influence. It's no good just shouting. How do we get from a two-state solution from this point now? I think that's further away. And I think, as the chief rabbi says, we have to understand the context in this country that we're operating in. We're about to come up to Jewish holy days that are about to start. And again, the timing of this really seems odd to me, and I worry it's pandering to a left-wing vote rather than actually bringing people in.
Kitty, it was quite a big moment, wasn't it? And Labour MPs must have welcomed it, haven't they?
Yes, it was. And the language has stepped up quite a significant gear, talking about ethnic cleansing in the occupied territories. I think two things can be true at the same time. One is that if you want to get to a two-state solution, you've got to put a line in the sand sometimes and say, actually, we disagree with settlers and settler violence, but also be worried about the effect it's going to have on British Jews. And Ed Miliband was out and about this morning saying to equate Israel with all Jewish behaviour is anti-Semitic. And he's right. But there's so many people who either don't see it like that or don't want to see it like that. And I do worry that there will be an uptick in violence, particularly, I mean, in this country as well as elsewhere.
Tom, what do you say to that? That is the worry, and that is the worry the chief rabbi is raising.
There was an important debate in Parliament yesterday on Jewish safety, which I spoke in, and I've got Jewish constituents who are obviously concerned about the rise in hatred. What Ed Miliband was saying is exactly as Kitty's just said there. And I've been contacted by people within my constituency who are Jewish who support the government's position and who oppose it. I don't think we can assume that the Jewish community all have the same view, and we need to be listening to all those voices right now. But ultimately, we cannot allow settler violence to continue. We can't allow an expansion of settlements to continue. It will kill off a two-state solution.
Okay, let's cross over to the Commons. On Friday, we will mark the 25th anniversary of 9/11, a moment to remember the nearly 3,000 people who died, including 67 British citizens. There will be a ceremonial changing of the guard and events across the country. Our thoughts will remain on Friday with the loved ones of all we lost. Mr. Speaker, I also want to send our sympathies to the hundreds of people who will gather today at the funeral of PC Matthew Blades, including many serving police officers. And we send our thanks to them all for their service and their work to keep our communities safe. And on Back British Farming Day, as we can see, Mr. Speaker, I know the whole House will join me in paying tribute to everyone working around the clock to feed our country. Food security is national security, and we will continue to back British farming as a government. Mr. Speaker, this morning I had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others in addition to my duties in this House. I shall have further such meetings later today.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Can I associate myself with the comments on 9/11 and our brave police officer that lost his life? Mr. Speaker, my hometown of Kilmarnock was once the industrial powerhouse of Scotland, but after decades of decline and de-industrialisation, it's never fully recovered. So I welcome the prime minister's determination and focus to revive our high streets. And I extend a warm invitation to the prime minister anytime. Mr. Speaker, hope has been rekindled in Kilmarnock thanks to this government's £20 million Pride in Place investment. The first Kilmarnock town centre master plan created in over 50 years, led by the community, setting an achievable vision for a successful future, and we want to build on that momentum. Will the prime minister champion a new partnership between Kilmarnock, my hometown, and Manchester?
Order. Order. I think the prime minister's got a grip of the first three questions. Prime Minister.
Mr. Speaker, well, it does my heart good to hear my honourable friend talk about rising hope in Kilmarnock and the master plan for the town that she mentioned, backed by the government with the Pride in Place funding. And yes, I can assure her Number 10 North is as much at the service of her constituency as it is at the service of any constituency in this House. And we will turn what's happening in Kilmarnock into real momentum for the town.
Come to Leader of the Opposition, Kemi.
Mr. Speaker, after last week's session, the country was thrown into confusion over whether the prime minister was or was not going to fund 3% for defence by 2030. After today, he'll have another five weeks off PMQs, but there are some serious threats to national security that cannot wait. His chancellor resigned as defence secretary because the Labour government would not increase defence spending to 3% by 2030. Does the prime minister think he was right to quit?
Mr. Speaker, as I said last week, I appointed this chancellor because of his strong commitment to the defence of this nation. That was the reason why. And we will honour our NATO commitments, 3.5% by 2035 and a target date for 3% by 2030. And that will all be set out in the spending review. Mr. Speaker, I don't feel, though, that you get the right to come to this House and claim the moral high ground and point fingers wherever you can when defence spending was 2.3% of GDP and fell during 14 years of a Conservative government. On this issue, I think we should do more problem-solving than point-scoring. And I say to the right honourable lady, we would do our armed forces well if we could agree on this crucial issue more across the floor of this House.
Mr. Speaker, the prime minister wants to talk about the past on defence spending. So let me refresh his memory and the House. I remember when he was shadow home secretary when the Labour leader wanted us to leave NATO, disarm our nuclear deterrent and defund the army. So I will not be taking any lectures from him. He says the target is 2035. 2035 is a decade away. If he can't get to 3% by 2030, why should we believe he'll get to 3.5% by 2035? The spending review is next year. Last week I set out how we would get to 3% by 2030. The threats are now. Argentina is threatening the Falklands now. Russia is threatening us in the North Sea now. And Mr. Speaker, he didn't answer my question. He didn't answer my question. The chancellor was right to quit. I asked him if he was right to quit. The chancellor was right to quit, which is why it's so wrong that he's not sticking to his principles. The chancellor used to say not hitting 3% by 2030 would put our troops at risk. He also said Kemi was unable and the Treasury unwilling to provide that funding. So is the prime minister unable or is he just unwilling to get that money by 2030?
Mr. Speaker, this chancellor of all chancellors will be willing to provide that funding to our armed forces, back our defence investment plan. This government's commitment, Mr. Speaker, to the defence of this country is absolute. We've taken the strongest possible stance in supporting President Zelensky and Ukraine. We are playing our role around the world, and we will continue to do so. Mr. Speaker, she mentions the plan that she has set out, and this is why I say we should have an honest conversation across this dispatch box, because I looked at it and I don't think myself that taking £4 billion out of housing benefit is going to get the right consensus around this issue, because that would create levels of homelessness in this country, Mr. Speaker, that we wouldn't have seen before. Hundreds of thousands of children in temporary accommodation. Can I say to the right honourable lady, yes, we do everything to support our national security, but it can't come at the expense of social security. Having strong national security also depends upon having resilience in our communities. This side of the House will not be forced to choose between the two, and we will set out a plan to get to 3.5% by 2035 at the spending review.
Unbelievable, Mr. Speaker, that the prime minister would say that. He is clearly unwilling. We need to fund our defence, not spend all of our money on welfare. I cannot believe that he would actually say that. He is clearly unwilling. But, Mr. Speaker, there are ways to do this. He's not unable. There are ways to do this. On Monday, Chris Rokos, Britain's third biggest taxpayer, announced he was leaving the country. That's £330 million of taxes walking out the door because of this Labour government. Every year, Mr. Speaker, £330 million. His taxes could be going on defence. The prime minister is talking about spending more on welfare. The benefits bill is set to rise by £32 billion under him. The benefits bill is set to rise by £32 billion. That's not all of it. That's the rise. That money could be going on defence. The prime minister won't approve the Rosebank oil field. £1.4 billion of tax revenue that could be going on defence. So, will the prime minister tell the country where is he going to find the money to fund our defence?
So, Mr. Speaker, I can't comment today on decisions that are quasi-judicial decisions, but we will take a pragmatic approach to oil and gas, as I've said before at this dispatch box. And let's get to the heart of this question, Mr. Speaker, as she invites me to do, and what is the right way to fund defence, and yes, bring the welfare budget down. So, she would make crude cuts to housing benefits. And as I've said, if you take £4 billion out in the next few years, you will make families homeless. You will increase rough sleeping on our streets. So here's the Labour way, the way that we do it on this side of the House. We have set out plans for the biggest council house building programme this country has seen in a generation. And if you look at research from the National Housing Federation, you will see that is the route to save billions from housing benefit. We will shortly respond to the final report of Alan Milburn, who is looking at the issue of young people not in education, employment or training. Again, something left behind by the last government. We will take the Labour way: change education, support our young people, more mental health support. That's the Labour way to get the welfare bill down. And I say to the honourable lady, that is the right way to fund defence.
No, it is not, Mr. Speaker. The truth is he doesn't know where he's going to find the money from. That's what I... He doesn't know where he's going to find the money from. He's talking about anything except defence, council, housing. He won't fund the military. I tell you what he is funding, though, Mr. Speaker. I tell you what he is funding. Kemi's £35 billion surrender of the Chagos Islands and its crucial military base. That is British sovereign territory. This is a weak decision, and it is no wonder that Argentina is now threatening the Falklands. We need to project strength. We need to show that British sovereign territory is non-negotiable. So why, just like Kemi, is he planning to surrender the Chagos Islands?
Mr. Speaker, I have to say to the right honourable lady, she does have to do better than that. I mean, they are the worst. They are the worst kind of points to be scoring when the country is watching. We will not surrender our base at Diego Garcia. We are in discussions with the United States about that, and we will always respect the rights of the Falkland Islanders to choose to be British. That will never change under this government, and we will be relentless in defending that.
Mr. Speaker, we are talking about paying £35 billion to give away British territory. And all of that is happening while his government is cancelling £30 million of vital training for British soldiers. The prime minister may be new to the job. So let me tell him what may not be in his briefing paper. Last year, last year, defence funding fell in real terms. That is on them. To govern is to choose. So why is he choosing to spend £35 billion to send £35 billion pounds to Mauritius when they cut the money to train our troops?
Mr. Speaker, I don't think she's on strong ground when it comes to defence spending. It was 2.5% of GDP when the last Labour government left office. It was 2.3% of GDP when the government she was in left office. It's now set to be 2.7% in the next year. So that is the reality of the situation. Mr. Speaker, a government that is strong on the defence of this country. That is what we are doing. It's why we've set out a defence investment plan that will be fully funded. I say to her again, it would be better to work across the floor of this House to get a fully and securely funded path to 3.5% of GDP by 2035 that won't change under any government. That would send the strongest possible message to our armed forces. This is an area for problem-solving rather than point-scoring. I invite her to work with us on that so that we can set out that clear path.
Mr. Speaker, the prime minister seems to think that the last government was a Conservative government. The last government was a Labour government, and it failed, which is why Kemi resigned. Exactly. He keeps talking about their record as if it was fantastic. If it was, then why is Kemi not sitting there? Where Britain needs leadership, what we have at the moment is just vibes. He said he appointed the chancellor because he cares about defence, but he won't fund it. Other countries are making claims over our sovereign territory. They smell weakness. He's pretending that he's the change candidate, but the fact is he's still failing to cut welfare. He's still paying to hand over a sovereign territory. He is still not funding defence. So on the issues that really matter, isn't he just continuity Kemi?
Mr. Speaker, she mentions leadership. Let me tell her and the whole House where Britain is showing leadership. There have been Conservative politicians at this dispatch box, Labour politicians too, for decades who've talked about the importance of the two-state solution between Israel and Palestine. Words from any politician about a two-state solution will be only words if it's not backed with action. And leadership is about taking action where there is injustice, where we need to correct unfairness, people being driven out of their homes, losing their homes, being intimidated in their daily lives. I credit the father of the House who yesterday applauded the action that this government is taking. In this difficult and dangerous world, Britain has to stand for something. Britain has to show leadership. Britain has to stand for fairness against injustice. Where people are being bullied out of their homes, intimidated, we will always stand with the underdog and take what action we can to support them. That, Mr. Speaker, is leadership on the world stage. Britain being true to what it's always been about. That is what the British government, British people expect of us, and that is what this government will do.
Mr. Bacon, I don't need advice from you. I am not responsible for the answers. The prime minister answers the questions. Don't look to me, please. Right, Sarah Hall.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the prime minister grew up in Warrington, so he will know our town has changed enormously, but too much of the infrastructure people depend on has not changed with it. Much of Warrington Hospital was built in a different century for a much smaller population. While Broomfield's leisure centre is at the end of its life, its pool now closed on safety grounds. Will the prime minister come home to Warrington, meet me, and set out how the government will deliver the infrastructure my constituents deserve?
Can I say to my honourable friend, I'm a more regular visitor to her constituency than she might realise, constantly nipping in and out for various reasons. So I know Warrington well. I believe it is a success story, actually, something of a jewel in the northwest crown, a growing town, you could almost say a city it should be, given how successful it's been in recent times. But it does need new infrastructure. I would like to see a remodelled Warrington Bank with high-quality east-west, north-south connectivity running through it. And when it comes to leisure, Mr. Speaker, you know this as much as anyone in the House, perhaps more than anyone, this is a prime minister that will back grassroots sport to the hilt, and I can assure her I'm happy to talk to her about the leisure centre that she mentioned.
