Brief

Tories pledge £10 billion ‘Britannia Shield’ air‑defence system at conference

Kemi Badenoch said the new system will act as a British ‘iron dome’ and cost about £1 billion a year for ten years.

By Felo News Desk · Published Wed, 07 Oct 2026 03:44:06 GMT

The Conservative Party announced a £10 billion air‑defence programme called “Britannia Shield” on the third day of its annual conference in Birmingham, saying it will protect the United Kingdom, its sovereign territories and overseas bases.

What happened

At the conference, business secretary Kemi Badenoch said the system will combine radar, command and control networks, interceptor missiles and counter‑drone capabilities. Party officials said the scheme will cost roughly £1 billion a year for ten years, funded from a pre‑existing defence spending promise.

What the reports add

The Standard reported that the Conservatives have framed the plan as a British version of the Israeli “iron dome”, emphasizing the threat from cheap missiles and drones that can now reach cities and critical infrastructure. It also noted that the party has linked the funding to broader welfare reforms, such as reinstating the two‑child benefit cap and changing housing benefit, to free up money for defence.

What was said

"The world will not wait for Britain to get ready. War has returned to Europe. Missiles and drones are transforming warfare in the Middle East," Badenoch told the conference, according to the Standard. She added, "The threat is here. Britain must be ready. And Britannia Shield will help make sure we are." The article also quoted her criticism of Labour: "Yet Labour still will not commit the money Britain needs for defence. They keep pouring billions into a broken welfare system while leaving our security underfunded."

How it came about

The pledge follows a long‑running debate over UK defence spending. The Standard noted that real‑terms defence budgets fell by about 22 % between 2010 and 2016/17 before rising again to 2010 levels. Badenoch said the Conservatives aim to spend 3 % of gross domestic product on defence by 2030, a target Labour has not matched. The party hopes the new system will sharpen political lines with Prime Minister Andy Burnham, who has said national security cannot come at the expense of social security.

Key facts

The Conservatives pledged £10 billion for a new air‑defence system called Britannia Shield. (standard.co.uk)
The programme is expected to cost about £1 billion a year for ten years. (standard.co.uk)
Kemi Badenoch said the system will protect the UK, its territories and overseas bases. (standard.co.uk)
The party links funding to welfare reforms such as the two‑child benefit cap. (standard.co.uk)
Conservatives aim to spend 3 % of GDP on defence by 2030. (standard.co.uk)