Penny Mordaunt and Angela Rayner clash during live BBC election debate: ‘I won’t take lectures from you’

Penny Mordaunt and Angela Rayner clash over defenceBBC

Transcript

00:00 The cornerstone of our defense is our nuclear deterrent.

00:04 And you need more than submarines, sailors and warheads to deliver that.

00:08 You need credibility.

00:11 And it's too late for Labour on credibility.

00:15 Angela Rayner voted recently, along with the guy that wants to be your Foreign Secretary,

00:20 and half the Labour frontbench, to end our nuclear deterrent.

00:24 If you're doubting that they would use that force,

00:27 and she might be Prime Minister in four or five years' time,

00:31 if you are doubting that she or David Lamy or Keir Starmer would use that,

00:36 imagine what Putin is thinking.

00:38 Without credibility, we become a target.

00:42 If we become a target, you are less safe.

00:44 It's too late for this generation of Labour politicians.

00:48 That credibility is shot. Do not vote these people in.

00:52 Angela Rayner, would you like to respond to that?

00:54 Penny, you can keep pointing at me, but you're the party that have cut the armed forces,

00:58 crashed the economy and left us in a real mess.

01:00 Keir has been absolutely clear. I am absolutely clear.

01:03 We will keep our nuclear deterrent and we will invest in it into the future.

01:07 It doesn't matter how many submarines you want, but we've been very clear on that.

01:14 If your foe does not believe that you will use these weapons, the deterrent is gone.

01:21 And that's the position you're in.

01:24 Serious stuff. This is what will happen if you elect these people.

01:28 We've become a laughing stock internationally because of your party.

01:32 Keir Starmer has changed the Labour Party.

01:35 We're very clear on our number one priority is to protect our core defence.

01:41 Let me bring in some more parties on this question.

01:45 My brother who served in Iraq, I won't be lectured on whether or not I'm absolutely committed

01:50 committed to the security of our country.