I was delighted to welcome US Ambassador Warren Stephens and Australian High Commissioner Jay Weatherill to Parliament this week for the AUKUS All Party Parliamentary Group’s event to mark the 5th Anniversary of the AUKUS partnership.
I hosted the event as Chair of the AUKUS APPG to highlight the importance of the partnership to our nations and to communities across the UK including ours here in Barrow and Furness.
My speech in support of AUKUS was followed by keynote speeches from Ambassador Stephens, High Commissioner Weatherill, and the Defence Secretary, Wes Streeting.
All three nations reaffirmed their 100% support for AUKUS and its growing importance in world of increasing threats. There was also a recognition that, five years on, we are now in the phase of turning political commitment and technological ambition into delivery. I was delighted to hear the Defence secretary confirm that the steel for the first SSN AUKUS boat will be cut in Barrow next year!
The excellent turnout for the event showed the depth of support behind this mission which is so important to our area. Thank you to everyone who helped make the event a success.
