will today (Monday) turn the
focus of the election campaign onto the choice on national
security.
Labour, with a new cohort of former forces personnel standing for
Starmer's changed party, will give a total commitment to securing
the UK's future nuclear deterrent with a nuclear deterrent triple
lock.
and Shadow Defence Secretary,
, will contrast the stability
and security that the country needs with the chaos that is the
result of 14 years of the Conservatives.
Labour's nuclear deterrent triple lock would
see:
- The construction of four new nuclear submarines in
Barrow-in-Furness, supporting high quality, high status
apprenticeships and jobs, with the supply chain benefits being
felt right across the country
- Britain maintaining its continuous at-sea deterrent, 24 hours
a day, 365 days a year - securing protection for both the UK and
NATO allies
- The delivery of all future upgrades needed for those
submarines to patrol the waters and keep our country safe.
The Labour Party is committed to spending 2.5 per cent of GDP on
defence, securing our country's future, while getting the best
value for money for British taxpayers.
The Labour leader will meet with forces veterans and a cohort of
Labour Prospective Parliamentary Candidates (PPCs) in the North
West of England on Monday, where the nuclear deterrent triple
lock will be the focus of the day's campaigning.
The cohort of new Labour PPCs are evidence of the change that the
party has undergone, with Starmer's leadership.
They include Al Carns, who was until last week a Colonel in the
Royal Marines; , an army veteran, was
previously an intelligence officer for the army; and , who was a commanding
officer in the Royal Air Force.
, Leader of the Labour Party,
said:
“National security will always come first in the changed Labour
Party I lead. Keeping our country safe is the bedrock of
stability that the British people rightly expect from their
government.
“My message to them is clear: Labour has changed. No longer the
party of protest, Labour is the Party of national security. The
excellent former service personnel that are standing as Labour
candidates are a testament to that change. From Al Carns in
Birmingham Selly Oak, to in Derbyshire, national
security is now a central strand of the Labour Party tapestry.
“In the face of increasing threats to national security, actions
will speak louder than words. That's why, alongside our
unshakeable commitment to NATO, an incoming Labour government
will introduce a ‘triple lock' commitment on our nuclear
deterrent - providing vital protection for the UK and our NATO
allies in the years ahead, as well as supporting thousands of
high paying jobs across the UK.”
, Labour's Shadow Defence
Secretary, said:
“With threats increasing, we must secure Britain's defences for
the future.
“But the Conservatives have failed defence over the last 14
years. Even Wallace admitted that the
Conservatives have “hollowed out and underfunded” our Armed
Forces since 2010. The Tories have cut the Army to its smallest
size since Napoleon, missed recruitment targets every year, and
allowed morale to fall to record lows. Our Armed Forces can't
afford another five years of the Conservatives.
“Britain will be better defended with Labour. In Government, the
UK's nuclear deterrent will be the bedrock of Labour's defence
plans to keep Britain safe and grow our economy."
Labour's ex-military candidates
Labour has now selected 14 ex-military personnel who will stand
for the party as PPCs.
Al Carns (Labour candidate in Birmingham Selly Oak) was
until last week a Colonel in the Royal Marines. He has served in
the military for 24 years across the globe at some of the highest
levels in the military. He now wants to continue his service to
his country, the people, Labour and .
(Labour candidate in North
East Derbyshire) is an army veteran, who was previously an
intelligence officer for the army.
CBE (Labour candidate in
Leyton and Wanstead) was a commanding officer in the Royal Air
Force.
Ends
Notes:
In April, became the first Labour leader
in 30 years to see nuclear submarines being built at the shipyard
in Barrow-in-Furness.
