'The best way to avoid war is to be strong'

Tory leader insists UK must be ready

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Kemi Badenoch views a drone on factory tour in Hampshire

ready to face this. We have a Labour government that is weak, we have a Reform party where the leader has talked about his admiration for Putin and a leader in Wales who was bribed by Russia.

“I just don’t have any confidence that any other party except us has the initiative, the strength, the credibility and the competence to deal with this.”

As senior defence chiefs warned of the risk of direct conflict with Russia, Mrs Badenoch added in an exclusive interview: “War is avoidable but the best way to avoid a war is to be strong. Strong countries don’t get attacked.

“If an aggressive country like Russia believes it can win a war then it will start a war. We must be prepared and be resilient. That is the most important thing.”