In the latest of his blitz of policy announcements since taking office less than two weeks ago – a big one this time, involving £8.4bn – Prime Minister Andy Burnham stressed the jobs benefits as well as the defence and security importance of renewing Britain’s nuclear deterrent.
On a visit to Barrow, Burnham said (according to a pre-release): “Keeping this country safe is the first responsibility of any government – but security is not only about what we build, it is about who builds it, and who benefits from it. The submarines produced in Barrow will protect Britain for decades to come, and the 47,000 jobs and apprenticeships will change lives both in this town and in dozens of places like it.
“British money, spent on British workers, British firms and British skills, in the places that were written off for forty years. To every young person across the country, I want you to know that there is a path for you into a reindustrialised Britain, and it starts with the apprenticeships we are funding through this investment.”
National endeavour
The £8.4bn investment in the Dreadnought submarine programme announced by Burnham was actually agreed during the Starmer government. Dreadnought Delivery Phase 4 (DP4) underlines defence as an engine for growth and reinforces the work to modernise our nuclear capabilities and the facilities that deliver them as a truly national endeavour, said the government.
The Defence Nuclear Enterprise (DNE), a partnership of organisations across government and industry which are responsible for operating, maintaining and renewing the nuclear deterrent, will support 6,000 companies in the supply chain throughout the UK and create 22,000 apprenticeships by 2035, according to the government. It supports 47,000 jobs, forecast to rise to around 65,000 by 2035. The North of England is a powerhouse of British industry and innovation and remains central to the DNE, added the government.
Rejuvenating communities
Speaking in Barrow, the Prime Minister said the region was a case study for how taxpayer investment in major government projects should deliver long-term opportunities and rejuvenation for communities across the UK. The government would set out more on how it would do that in the coming weeks, to ensure major projects delivered for more places like Barrow.
The £8.4bn investment will begin the fourth phase of the UK’s Dreadnought Class submarine programme, boosting the UK’s national security for generations and driving economic growth in every postcode, said No. 10.
Delivery Phase 4 (DP4) would see HMS Dreadnought, the first of the four new nuclear deterrent submarines, complete its sea trials and be ready to enter service with the Royal Navy in the early 2030s. Boat two, HMS Valiant, would reach sea trials and boats three and four progress through their construction phases.
The UK’s nuclear deterrent underpins the country’s contribution to NATO and Euro-Atlantic security, demonstrating to allies and adversaries alike that Britain’s deterrent remains credible, independent and enduring, said the government. This announcement highlighted a programme delivering across multiple priorities: strengthening national security, supporting allies, transforming industrial performance, and driving economic growth across all parts of the UK.
Comment
The focus on jobs, apprenticeships and reindustrialisation in this announcement alongside defence was probably included with an eye on those Labour MPs opposed to Britain’s nuclear deterrent. Also noticeable was the absence of any commitment to spending any specific proportion of GDP on defence by any specific date.
*This report is based on a press release from the Prime Minister’s Office and a second from the MOD, DNE and Wes Streeting.
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