Nuclear submarine investment will protect UK and boost jobs, says PM

Prime Minister Andy Burnham emphasized that ongoing investment in nuclear submarines will safeguard Britain for decades while simultaneously bolstering employment. Speaking ahead of a visit to Barrow-in-Furness, the site where four new Dreadnought-class submarines are under construction, Burnham stated, "Security is not only about what we build, it is about who builds it, and who benefits from it."

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Security is not only about what we build, it is about who builds it, and who benefits from it.

The project to replace the UK's current nuclear submarines will receive £8.4 billion to advance the development of new vessels. These Dreadnought-class submarines are set to replace the four Vanguard-class vessels, which have been operational since 1992 and carry Trident missiles for nuclear deterrence. The Vanguard submarines are scheduled for retirement in the 2030s, coinciding with the Dreadnoughts' entry into service.

The initiative, which has been in development for 20 years since its initial announcement in 2006, received formal approval for construction in 2016. The recent £8.4 billion allocation marks the beginning of the project's fourth phase. This funding was already incorporated into the Defence Investment Plan, which outlines £63.6 billion over the next four years for the Defence Nuclear Enterprise. This includes maintaining existing nuclear submarines, continuing the Dreadnought program, initiating planning for their successors, and upgrading naval facilities.

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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.

Burnham highlighted the economic advantages of defense spending, noting that the submarines built in Barrow will not only protect the nation but also create 47,000 jobs and apprenticeships. He stressed that British funds are being invested in British workers, firms, and skills, particularly in areas that have faced economic challenges. The government projects that the nuclear defense spending currently supports approximately 47,000 jobs, with an anticipated rise to 65,000 by 2030, including 22,000 apprenticeships by 2035. Burnham also linked this investment to his broader goal of reducing youth unemployment by supporting apprenticeships.

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British money, spent on British workers, British firms and British skills, in the places that were written off for 40 years.