UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer sharply rebuffed Tory leader Kemi Badenoch on Wednesday, rejecting her claim that he had acted on her advice to reduce the aid budget. He also criticized her political stance, mocking her as a “self-appointed saviour of Western civilisation” in what appeared to be a pointed jab at her rhetoric. During a plenary session, Badenoch had suggested that Starmer had followed her suggestion to cut the aid budget, while questioning discrepancies in the government’s defence budget figures.

Badenoch stated, “Over the weekend, I suggested to the prime minister that he reduce the aid budget, and I’m pleased that he accepted my advice. It’s the fastest response I’ve ever had from him.” She also pointed out inconsistencies in the figures, noting that while the prime minister had announced £13.4 billion in additional defence spending, the defence secretary later referred to only £6 billion.

In his response, Starmer firmly denied being influenced by Badenoch, sarcastically stating, “I’m going to have to let the leader of the opposition down gently. She didn’t feature in my thinking at all. I was so busy over the weekend I didn’t even see her proposal.” He further mocked her, saying, “She’s appointed herself the saviour of Western civilisation. It’s a desperate search for relevance.” He then went on to highlight the £13.4 billion increase in defence spending, calling it the largest sustained rise since the Cold War.

Starmer’s remarks prompted laughter from MPs in the House, with Badenoch herself smiling at the exchange.