The world has significantly changed over the last few years and the threats we now face are more serious and less predictable than at any point in the last 30 years. It has been over three years since Russia launched its vile assault on Ukraine and the conflict does not feel close to ending. The atrocity in Israel on October 7th 2023 and the ongoing suffering of the Palestinian people means we feel further than ever from peace in the Middle East. And intensifying geopolitical competition and conflict is seeing a growing threat from Iran, China and elsewhere. Add to this the Trump administration in the US, which has strained relationships in the West and created further economic and political instability, the world feels a very volatile place.
What all this has shown is the urgent need to increase our spending on defence and stressed the importance of ensuring we have a strong, united NATO coalition.
Spending on defence is about ensuring we have the personal and equipment to protect our nation in dangerous times, shoulder to shoulder with our closest allies. It is not about desiring war but preventing it. In my time in parliament, I have had the pleasure of meeting and hearing from dozens of service people at all levels of our armed forces and I have huge respect for the job they do. They don’t ask to be sanctified, but they do expect to be properly equipped and given clear instructions about the task we expect of them.
I feel confident that the investment announced this week will make a real difference to the role our armed forces can play. Labour’s Defence Review has set out a vision to make Britain safer at home and abroad. The Defence Secretary, John Healey, has pledged that the Government will reverse decades of armed force cuts after announcing plans to build the British Army back up to a strength of at least 76,000.
Labour’s plans for ensuring our defence and security:
Move to warfighting readiness
- ‘New Hybrid Navy’: Dreadnought and SSN-AUKUS submarines, cutting-edge warships and support ships, transformed aircraft carriers, and new autonomous vessels.
- 10x more lethal British Army: armoured capability, AI, software, long-range weapons, and land drone swarms—and aim to increase full-time troops to at least 76,000 into the next Parliament.
- Next-generation RAF: F-35s, upgraded Typhoons, next-generation fast jets through GCAP, and autonomous fighters.
- Sovereign warhead programme: £15bn this Parliament, supporting 9,000+ jobs.
- Homeland air and missile defence: up to £1bn new funding.
- New CyberEM Command: defending Britain from daily attacks in the grey zone.
UK innovation driven by lessons from Ukraine
- World-leading innovation in autonomy: doubling investment in autonomous systems this Parliament to boost UK export potential.
- New Digital Targeting Web in 2027: up to £1bn for the digital integration of our Armed Forces.
- New ‘Drone Centre’: accelerating the use of autonomous systems across our Armed Forces.
Engine for growth
- Munitions: £6bn this Parliament— including £1.5bn in an ‘always on’ pipeline and at least 6 new munitions and energetics factories in the UK, creating 1,000+ jobs.
- Continuous submarine production: up to 12 conventionally armed, nuclear-powered attack submarines through the AUKUS programme.
- UK Defence Innovation: £400m to invest in UK-based companies.
- New Defence Exports Office: driving exports to our allies and growth at home.
‘NATO first’
- First European hybrid airwings: transforming our aircraft carriers, combining fast jets, long-range weapons, and drones.
- First European laser directed energy weapon in service: through nearly £1bn of new funding.
- Greater European deterrence: up to 7,000 new long-range weapons and supporting around 800 jobs in the UK.
Whole-of-society approach
- Renewal of military accommodation: with spending of at least £7bn this Parliament, with £1.5bn+ new investment to fix forces family housing.
- More opportunities for young people: delivering a 30% increase in cadets by 2030 and introducing a voluntary ‘Gap Year’ scheme.
- a new UK Strategic Reserve by 2030 and the Navy taking a leading role in protecting undersea infrastructure.
- New Defence Readiness Bill: legislating to improve national preparedness.
This is a necessary plan that shows once again that we are committed to NATO – which is the bedrock of security for both the UK and Europe – and that we remain a powerful world leader. By showing that we are strong, secure and united, we can help prevent future conflict and make the world a safer place. I know from the emails and letters I have received that the safety of the country and our ability to stand up to tyrants like Putin is a real concern and priority for my constituents and I am pleased that this Government is delivering on defence.
