*GB2GB PR: What the Conservatives Actually Spent on Defence (2010–2024)*

For 14 years, the Conservative Party claimed to be the “party of defence”. The numbers tell a very different story:

DEFENCE SPENDING (2010–2024)

2010: £40.2bn

2024: £52bn

Total increase: +£11.8bn

Average GDP %: ~2.1–2.3%

Years hitting 3% GDP: 0

The Conservatives never reached the 3% target they now demand from Labour.

ARMED FORCES PERSONNEL (2010–2024)

Army: 102,000 ? ~72,000 (–30,000, –29%)

Navy: 35,000 ? ~30,000 (–5,000, –14%)

RAF: 40,000 ? ~33,000 (–7,000, –17%)

Total forces: ~177,000 ? ~135,000 (–42,000, –24%)

The UK now has the smallest Army since the Napoleonic era.

THE REALITY

While Badenoch talks about “putting defence first”, the record shows her own party's performance, of which she was an active part of for much of those 14 years:

1/. Cuts every year from 2010–2015

2/. Personnel reductions every year 2010–2024

3/. Capability gaps identified repeatedly by the MOD

4/. A £17bn funding black hole (HoC) Defence Committee)

GB2GB's POSITION:

When right wing politicians and media claim they “prioritised defence”, the numbers show the complete opposite:

2010 - 2024

1/. Spending rose just £11.8bn over 14 years

2/. Personnel fell 42,000

3/. GDP % stayed around 2.1–2.3%

4/. 3% was never achieved

This is not opinion. This is not rhetoric. This is the Conservative record of the FAILURE she accuses Labour of - in HARD numbers.

If the leader of the opposition was genuinely concerned about the state of funding 2 years after her party's neglect then surely she must also be ashamed of their - and her - time in office enough to apologise to the nation on behalf of the party she believes could form the next government.

ACCORDING TO RIGHT WING MEDIA POLLS - BADENOCH IS POPULAR WITH VOTERS

*ACCORDING TO GB2GB - BADENOCH IS ANOTHER TORY DISASTER IN WAITING*

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