MP, Secretary of State for
Defence, speech at Labour Party Conference 2024:
It's an honour to stand here as Defence Secretary in our new
Labour Government. A Government, elected to serve and to deliver
for the people. And we will.
Labour has deep roots defending this country. The party that
established NATO and the nuclear deterrent. The party of working
men and women who built the warships, who made the missiles and
served on the frontline to protect us all. And at this historic
election, we had. A record number of people who served in the
frontline Forces, elected as Labour MPs.
Record wins in military towns and cities right across the UK.
Wycombe, home of the RAF air command , Labour gain. Portsmouth,
home of the Royal Navy, Labour gain. Aldershot, home of the
British Army, Labour gain. Labour, Labour is the Party of
Defence.
Security will be the foundations on which our Labour missions are
built. And we will set out a path to increase defence spending to
2.5% of GDP – a level not matched since 2010, when Labour was
last in government.
Conference, in my second day in the job I travelled to Ukraine
and spent the afternoon with President Zelensky. Visiting injured
soldiers who told us about the daily attacks, destroyed homes and
dead friends.
They told us that they were fighting for their country's freedom
– and fighting for Europe's future. Because defence of Europe and
defence of the UK starts in Ukraine. And today, today is Day 942
of Putin's illegal war. I'm proud Labour has stood with Kyiv
since day one. I'm proud the UK is united for Ukraine.
And I'm proud this Labour government has step up our support for
Ukraine. New packages of artillery, air defence, armoured
vehicles, a new guarantee to speed up deliveries, a new defence
industrial strategy, a treaty with new export guarantees, a new
commitment to train Ukrainian troops throughout 2025, and a
pledge to spend £3B in military support this year, next year and
every year it takes for as long as it takes for Ukraine to win.
Conference, as global threats increase, the first duty of this
Party in Government is to defend the country and keep our
citizens safe. War in Europe, conflict in the Middle East,
growing Russian aggression. We know these are serious times.
We know there are serious problems, with our Armed Forces
hollowed out and underfunded over the last 14 years. And the
problems, the problems the Tories have left, are much worse than
we thought.
As Defence Secretary, I know this myself, ships without enough
sailors to crew them, military housing with no running water,
defence plans with billion-pound blackholes and yet, despite
everything the Tories did the total commitment of civilian staff,
industry workers, service personnel to defend this nation,
remains undiminished.
I say to them on behalf of us all, we are proud your
professionalism we're proud of your dedication. Thank you for
everything you do.
Conference, I stood here last year and I promised that Britain
will be better defended with Labour. Now, in Government we're
getting on with the job. We've increased UK support for Ukraine,
we've dedicated Britain to securing an immediate ceasefire in
Gaza, we've launched a strategic defence review to fix the
foundations of our defence for the future.
We can't solve the problems, all at once. We can begin the
change. And we have. Legislating for a new Armed Forces
Commissioner to improve service life, confirming we'll set new
minimum standards for military housing, delivering the largest
pay rise to the Armed Forces in over 20 years. So that now, for
the first time, a Defence Secretary can say everyone in uniform
will be paid at least the national living wage.
Conference, this is what it means when a Labour government says
we'll put people at the heart of our defence plans.
Conference, you hear some say, young people today don't want to
serve their country. I know this is wrong. Over the last 10
years, more than a million, more than a million applied to join
the Forces. Yet 3 in 4 gave up. Gave up on the process. Because
it takes months and it's tied up in red tape.
So today, I'm announcing our first steps to start to fix the Tory
recruitment crisis. First, I've scrapped 100 outdated policies
that block people joining. Second, I'm setting new targets for
the Forces to reject or make a conditional offer within 10 days
and to give people a training start date within 30 days. Third,
I'm setting up a new direct route for cyber military recruits.
Because if you are a top gamer or coder, your country needs
you.
We will always maintain the highest standards. And we will create
an Armed Forces that draws the very best of British talent.
Better fit to fight. Better reflecting the country they defend.
So Conference, this Labour Government, will be a government that:
Renews the nation's contract with those who serve, and our
veterans, ensures defence helps boost the UK economy, makes
Britain secure at home and strong abroad.
The public voted for it. Labour will deliver it.
Change has begun.
