Andy Burnham launched the next phase of the BAE Systems UK submarine contract in Barrow-in-Furness on Thursday, bringing £8.4bn of new contracts into the nuclear submarine replacement programme. Downing Street said the phase is set to support 18,000 extra jobs in nuclear defence by 2030 and 22,000 additional apprentices by 2035.
Barrow-in-Furness launch
Burnham travelled to the Cumbrian town to launch the contracts as part of the already agreed Dreadnought programme. The Dreadnought-class boats are intended to replace the ageing Vanguard-class submarines, with the work centred on the Barrow shipyard.
He said: “Keeping this country safe is the first responsibility of any government – but security is not only about what we build; it is about who builds it, and who benefits from it,” ahead of his visit to England’s north-west. He also said: “To every young person across the country, I want you to know that there is a path for you into a reindustrialised Britain, and it starts with the apprenticeships we are funding through this investment today,” tying the contract phase directly to training.
Burnham and Trident renewal
The launch follows Burnham’s promise to place Trident renewal at the heart of his vision of a reindustrialised Britain. He said the UK would honour its Nato commitments and referred to the pledge to increase defence spending to 3.5% of GDP by 2035.
On Wednesday, he said at a press conference: “When it comes to defence, obviously those commitments … relate to the parliament after this one,” and added: “In terms of our Nato commitments, I have been very clear that we will honour those commitments. It does mean being prepared to look at challenging issues.” He did not commit to hitting 3% of GDP by 2030.
2016 vote split
Burnham voted to build the new submarines in 2016, while Jeremy Corbyn voted against. Wes Streeting and John Healey voted in favour that year, and Louise Haigh voted no. The programme sits inside a wider military nuclear workforce that currently supports 47,000 jobs, including 13,500 in the Barrow shipyard.
The new phase puts the financing behind work already approved in the Dreadnought programme and concentrates the immediate effect on the shipyard workforce and the apprenticeship pipeline. What specific submarine build or replacement work the £8.4bn will fund is not explained, leaving the contract phase defined by its jobs and training impact rather than by a fuller construction schedule.
