Burnham explains why £8.4bn investment in nuclear submarines will boost UK defence, jobs and learning

Andy Burnham is expected to unveil an £8.4 billion investment for Britain’s next generation of nuclear submarines on Thursday.

Intended to prepare the Dreadnought-class boats for service by the 2030s, the nuclear-armed ships are expected to replace the current Vanguard class and will be equipped to launch Trident 2 D5 ballistic missiles.

Powered by a Rolls-Royce nuclear propulsion system, produced in Derby, the submarines will have an almost unlimited operational range.

HMS Battleship is the first of four new submarines.

The funding will primarily support its progress towards readiness, with a portion also allocated to the advancement of the second ship, HMS. Valiantduring its sea trials.

The builders will also be supported to move the third and fourth boats through their construction phases.

Mr Burnham said: “Ensuring the security of this country is the first responsibility of any government.

“But security is not just about what we build, it is also 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 businesses and British skills, in places that have been written off for 40 years.

“To all the young people across the country, I want you to know that there is a path to a reindustrialised Britain and it starts with the apprenticeships we are funding through this investment today. »

The Prime Minister’s announcement on Thursday will follow his commitment to tackling youth unemployment.

During a visit earlier this week to Alstom, a train manufacturer in Derby, Mr Burnham said the “first thing” he had to do was to stop the rise in the number of young people who are not in education, employment or training (Neet).

The latest data, released in May, shows the number of young people aged 16 to 24 neither working nor learning surpassed one million for the first time since 2013, reaching 1.01 million in the three months from January to March.

“It would be a mistake to blame young people when we have an education system that does not organize them properly, where some struggle to find opportunities at 16, where work experience and internships are not there for them,” Mr Burnham said.

“We need to get those building blocks in place, and then over time that number will go down.”

The wider UK defense nuclear enterprise is expected to support around 47,000 jobs, including 9,000 at Aldermaston and Burghfield in Berkshire, 8,000 at Devonport naval base in Plymouth and 13,500 at Barrow in Cumbria.

Regarding the Dreadnought-class submarine programme, £5.9 billion of the £8.4 billion will go to BAE Systems, including £2.5 billion for the entire supply chain.

Mr Burnham faces questions over his defense policy, including how he will finance his pledge to reach 3.5% of GDP in defense spending by 2035.

When asked at a press conference on Wednesday whether he would stick to this commitment, the Prime Minister referred to the deadline in the next decade.

“In terms of our commitments to NATO, I have been very clear that we will honor those commitments,” he said. “It means being prepared to tackle difficult questions. »

Mr Burnham’s choice for chancellor, John Healey, resigned as Sir Keir Starmer’s defense secretary last month, warning that the former prime minister was “unable, and the Treasury unwilling, to commit the resources the nation needs to defend the country at this time of growing threats”.

The subsequent Defense Investment Plan (Dip) – including a commitment to fund the installation of four Dreadnought submarines at Barrow – took the total planned investment in defense over the next four years to £298 billion.

Defense spending by the end of the decade will reach 2.7 percent of GDP, according to the document.

It is thought the Prime Minister will hail Barrow as a case study of how taxpayer investment in major government projects can support long-term opportunities across the UK.

Defense Secretary Wes Streeting said: “Our nuclear submarines are essential to keeping the UK secure, acting as the ultimate deterrent to our adversaries in an increasingly dangerous world.

“This landmark investment breathes new life into Barrow’s historic traditions and confirms our commitment to delivering Dreadnought-class submarines in support of British industry.

“By supporting thousands of skilled local jobs, we are merging Barrow’s proud heritage with modern technology to build our security for the future, helping the next generation keep our country safe, just as their parents and grandparents did.”

Shadow Defense Secretary James Cartlidge warned that the money “would appear to be a further announcement of funding previously confirmed at the Dip”, but added: “We nevertheless welcome continued progress on the Dreadnought programme.”

The Conservative MP continued: “It is concerning that there are still no details on the big promise in the Defense Strategic Review, which was the acquisition of “up to 12” attack submarines.

“The Dip was intended to clarify exactly what ‘until 12’ meant, but we are still not aware of it.

“At the same time, Burnham is adding to the uncertainty by not committing to the very 3% path his Chancellor demanded when he resigned as Defense Secretary.

“It is positive that we now have consensus with the Government on support for the nuclear deterrent and it is good that we are sending a message to our adversaries that we support all the workers at Barrow and Devonport, who support and build our submarines.

“Nevertheless, we hope the Chancellor and Prime Minister will respond to the threats we face by properly funding a path to a 3 percent rate. [by 2030].”