KEEPING the country safe is the first duty of any government – but Kemi Badenoch says Labour is failing “this most basic task”.
The Tory leader will spend today trying to burnish her credentials on defence and claim Andy Burnham is unwilling to invest in the military.
She has grabbed the headlines by pledging to build an Iron Dome capable of shooting down missiles targeting Britain.
Modelled on Israel’s world-beating air defence system, it will cost £10billion and be funded by slashing spending on benefits.
By putting defence front and centre of her party conference, Badenoch hopes to put the issue up in lights and draw a clear dividing line with Labour.
Her framing is simple: Burnham’s reluctance to cut welfare means he is forced to scrimp on our national security.
Is Badenoch on to a winner?
Previous governments have also penny-pinched on defence and diverted cash to other public services.
Ploughing billions into a military that you hopefully never have to use is no mean feat.
But Badenoch is banking on voters realising the world is a vastly more dangerous place, with hostile powers flexing their muscles.
She also hopes to punch a political bruise, given John Healey quit as Defence Secretary over a lack of funding he is now failing to plug as Chancellor.
Speaking of Healey, he also has a new headache in the form of the Sun’s own star columnist Jeremy Clarkson.
The telly legend made a surprise appearance at the Conservative conference to barrack Labour over punitive business taxes.