Tories would reinstate two-child benefit cap to fund defence, says Badenoch

Conservative leader promises biggest peacetime rearmament effort in UK history if her party is re-elected

The Conservatives would reinstate the two-child benefit cap and use the savings for a wide-ranging spending splurge on defence in what Kemi Badenoch said would be “the biggest peacetime programme of rearmament in our country’s history”.

Speaking at a defence conference in London, the Tory leader criticised the government for Britain’s “lack of readiness” for war, which has been exposed by recent world events.