Badenoch scrambles to deny 'British Iron Dome' plan despite her own press release using the phrase
From the Newshound archive · first published 6 October 2026.
Kemi Badenoch repeatedly insisted her party's £10bn 'Britannia Shield' defence pledge was not comparable to Israel's Iron Dome — hours after the Conservative Party's own press release described it as "in essence, a British Iron Dome". On BBC Radio 4's Today programme, she blamed newspapers for the comparison, before a presenter read the Tories' own briefing document back to her live on air. Military experts warn £10bn would fall far short of what a nationwide system would cost.
Former army general Richard Barrons said a system similar to Israel's would cost upwards of £100bn.
Pressed on how many mobile units would be needed, Badenoch replied: 'You'll need to speak to a defence expert.'
Lib Dem defence spokesman James MacCleary savaged the costings as 'Truss-style fantasy economics', warning the budget 'would not even touch the sides.'
More
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