This week saw the publication of the Defence Investment Plan, which has huge significance for the shipyard and the economic future of our area.
This plan puts our nuclear deterrent and submarine programmes at the heart of Britain’s national security strategy. It demonstrates, once again, this Government’s commitment to our nuclear deterrent and ensures that the investment will be there to deliver both the Dreadnought and SSN-AUKUS programmes.
For the first time in well over a decade, we have a credible long-term defence spending plan. That is significant because years of short-term decision-making under previous governments created uncertainty, delayed investment and weakened confidence across the defence sector.
We all know what that has meant in the past for our area.
In 2010 the Liberal Democrats price for propping up a coalition Government was to put a stop to the Dreadnought programme; a price the Conservatives were happy to pay to get into power. They sold us out, and made the deal.
That delayed decision-making was devasting for Barrow and Furness and it has taken time for us to rebuild to where we are now with an orderbook that is full for several decades, stretching to 2050 and beyond.
The Defence Investment Plan commits £64 billion to our nuclear defence programme, including £47 billion for submarines, maintenance and infrastructure, alongside £6 billion to expand and modernise submarine manufacturing capacity.
This investment will support delivery of the Dreadnought programme and up to 12 SSN-AUKUS submarines, alongside the infrastructure upgrades needed to increase production to a drumbeat of one boat every 18 months.
Most importantly, this is a triple lock commitment to the delivery of four Dreadnought boats, and their future upgrades and the continuous at sea deterrent (CASD). Something that was sadly lacking under previous governments.
We know that for our area this is about far more than submarines. It is about creating opportunities for the next generation, development of supply chain businesses, and chance to diversify our economy.
All of this is supported by the £220m investment in Barrow’s communities through the Team Barrow partnership, with ambitious plans to deliver improvements locally.
There is much else in the defence investment plan to welcome. Much needed investment in the modernisation of our armed forces, including new capabilities, which will strengthen Britain’s ability to meet future threats while supporting jobs and growth across the UK.
The plan increases defence spending by 27% over this Parliament and recognises the growing challenges we face in an increasingly unstable world.
I welcome the Secretary of State’s commitment to setting a clear path towards spending 3% of GDP on defence, rising to 3.5% by 2035. However, given the scale of the threats we face, I believe we must go further and faster. I have long argued in my role on the Defence Committee that the public should be made more aware of the threats our country is dealing with daily.
This is a strong plan, a major boost for our national security and another vote of confidence in Barrow and Furness and its young people. Now we must ensure the opportunities it creates are felt across our whole community.