The Labour Party aims to raise the UK’s defense spending to 2.5% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
Keir Starmer said defense was “the number one issue for any government” in a world where international threats had risen and the situation was “more volatile” than it had been for many years.
“On defense spending, obviously we want to get to 2.5% as soon as resources allow that to happen,” he said.
Labour, currently leading in the opinion polls ahead of the upcoming election, has committed to matching the Conservative government’s level of defense spending, which stands at just under 2.3% of the country’s GDP.
Keir Starmer, the leader of the Labour Party, will further pledge to prioritize the UK’s nuclear deterrent as a cornerstone of his security strategy aimed at safeguarding the nation.
In a significant move, Starmer is set to visit Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, on Friday, April 12 becoming the first Labour leader to do so in 30 years.
This visit holds symbolic importance as Barrow-in-Furness is where nuclear submarines are built. Joining Starmer on this visit will be Stephen Smith, the Australian High Commissioner to the UK, along with John Healey, the Shadow Defense Secretary.
During this visit, Starmer is expected to articulate Labour’s commitment to leveraging defense procurement not only to bolster national security but also to stimulate economic growth within the UK.
He is expected to affirm Labour’s commitment to the AUKUS security pact, after outlining plans to direct British defence investment to British business first.
Keir Starmer is also scheduled to address workers, union members, and apprentices at the Barrow shipyard.
Labour’s Nuclear Deterrent Campaign Focus
Labour announced plans to focus its campaign efforts on promoting its commitment to the nuclear deterrent in key communities along the nuclear supply chain.
These include Plymouth, housing the Devonport shipyard; Bristol, the location of the Ministry of Defence’s Abbey Wood site; Derby, home to Rolls-Royce’s Raynesway site; and Argyll and Bute, where HM Naval Base Clyde is situated.
“In the face of rising global threats and growing Russian aggression, the UK’s nuclear deterrent is the bedrock of Labour’s plan to keep Britain safe. It will ensure vital protection for the UK and our Nato allies in the years ahead, as well as supporting thousands of high-paying jobs across the UK.”
“Countless families in Barrow and across Britain have built a secure future over decades of hard work building our defenses. I want that to continue for the decades to come. That’s why we are fully backing AUKUS submarines to be built in Barrow, too. And it’s why Labour will ensure that new UK leadership within Aukus helps make this national endeavor a success for Britain.”
Keir Starmer
John Healey added, “Pride is the overwhelming feeling of defense industry workers, especially those in Barrow building our vital nuclear submarines. They are essential in securing Britain’s defenses for the future.”
Kate Hudson, the general secretary of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, said voters were “desperately looking for hope from Labour. However, it’s increasingly clear that Starmer’s offer is just more of the same.”
She added that billions of pounds are wasted on nuclear weapons and nuclear power, and a belligerent foreign policy that includes support for the AUKUS pact, NATO, and continuing arms sales to Israel, used to kill Palestinians.
“Putting billions of pounds into the pockets of arms companies and their investors will not reinvigorate the economy in any meaningful way.”
Kate Hudson
Rishi Sunak visited BAE Systems Submarines in Barrow with the chancellor, Jeremy Hunt, in April 2024, after declaring a “critical national endeavor” to secure the nuclear industry’s future.
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