Key facts
- Prime Minister Andy Burnham is launching the next phase of the UK's nuclear submarine replacement program.
- The program involves new contracts worth £8.4bn, expected to support 18,000 extra jobs by 2030.
- Burnham is using the visit to emphasize his support for Trident renewal.
- BAE Systems received a £5.9bn contract to complete the first four Dreadnought-class boats.
- The overall Dreadnought program is valued at £31bn, including a £10bn contingency.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham is set to prioritize the renewal of the UK's Trident nuclear deterrent, framing it as a cornerstone of his vision for a reindustrialized Britain. His visit to Barrow-in-Furness, where the Dreadnought-class submarines are built, will mark the launch of the next phase of the £31 billion replacement program. Burnham intends to highlight how defense spending on such projects serves as a model for taxpayer investment that revitalizes communities and creates jobs across the UK.
New contracts worth £8.4 billion are expected to support an additional 18,000 jobs in nuclear defense by 2030 and create 22,000 apprenticeships by 2035. Burnham stated that security is not only about what is built but also about who builds it and benefits from it, aiming to assure young people of career paths in a reindustrialized Britain. The visit also serves to underscore Burnham's pro-Trident credentials, recalling his 2016 vote in favor of building the new submarines, a decision that divided the Labour party at the time.
The UK's military nuclear activities currently sustain 47,000 jobs, with 13,500 of those at the Barrow shipyard. Burnham, who recently took office, has committed to NATO's pledge to increase defense spending to 3.5% of GDP by 2035. However, he declined to commit to an interim target of 3% by 2030, referring instead to future parliamentary commitments. The Dreadnought submarines are designed to replace the aging Vanguard-class submarines, which carry Britain's nuclear deterrent. The largest portion of the latest contract phase, valued at £5.9 billion, has been awarded to BAE Systems for the completion of the first four boats. The overall program includes a £10 billion contingency due to its complexity and has been flagged by government monitors.