Sir Keir Starmer became the first Labour leader in 30 years to visit the Barrow shipyard.
On a visit to BAE Systems he spoke of his ‘triple lock commitment’ to the nuclear deterrent and said there was a ‘generational commitment’ to the workforce at the shipyard.
Sir Keir said: “I’m really pleased to be the first Labour leader in 30 years to come here to Barrow to talk to the workforce and to be clear with them that we have a triple lock commitment to the nuclear deterrent which is a commitment to the dreadnought submarines, commitment to the continuous at-sea deterrent and commitment to the upgrades.
“Now that’s very important because that’s a generational commitment to the workforce here to Barrow itself which absolutely is locked in with the work that will go on here, so it’s a very important forward-looking commitment.”
The Labour leader affirmed the party’s commitment to the AUKUS security pact between the UK, Australia and the US.
He was joined by shadow defence secretary John Healey and Australian High Commissioner to the UK Stephen Smith where they met BAE staff and military personnel, and took part in a Q&A with workers and apprentices.
Sir Keir added: “In relation to what we’ve seen here, we’ve talked to everybody from apprentices, who’ve only been here a few months, through to senior management, who have been here in one case for 42 years.
“I’ve been really struck by the skill, the expertise and the pride that they have in their work. Sadly they can’t share their work with the rest of the world for obvious reasons but it is incredible work. We’re very proud of them and they should be proud of themselves, and I could feel that coming through.”
If elected, Labour said it would use defence procurement to strengthen UK security and economic growth. The party hopes to direct British defence investment to British business first, with a higher bar set for any decisions to buy abroad, he said.
On this aim, the Labour leader said: “Barrow and its shipyard should be seen both as the single most important part of our defence armoury but also a massive contributor to our economy which we want to grow and to make sure is sustained in all parts of the United Kingdom, so it’s very important in underpinning both of those projects.”
Mr Healey added this will ‘reinforce’ the economic base in the future for Barrow and across the country.
Mr Healey said: “It’s a base which this boost will reinforce the strength of our national security but also the strength of our economic growth as well in Barrow and the wider area but because of this is not a defence programme but is a national endeavour with a supply chain which reaches across the UK.
“So a determination under a labour government to direct first defence investment into British firms and British jobs will reinforce the economic base in future for Barrow but it will do similar across the country as well if we do it well.”
Labour parliamentary candidate for Barrow and Furness Michelle Scrogham said Sir Keir visit shows the party ‘backs’ the town.
Ms Scrogham added: “I think for me it shows that we’re serious about Barrow in Furness and that he backs this town and the shipbuilding industry.
“That commitment right from the top speaks volumes, we’ve been saying it for a long time, Labour backs Barrow, the jobs here are safe.
“But for him to actually visit and see what’s being built here and see what we’re so proud of, that’s really important for me to see first hand.”
In March, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak visited BAE Systems with Chancellor Jeremy Hunt after declaring a “critical national endeavour” to secure the nuclear industry’s future.
Defence Secretary Grant Shapps said: “Sir Keir Starmer and John Healey tried twice to put Jeremy Corbyn in charge of the nation’s armed forces.
“The same man who wanted to scrap our nuclear deterrent, dismantle Nato and questioned the integrity of British Intelligence community.
“Labour’s shadow foreign secretary even voted repeatedly to scrap Trident. They are not the party to be trusted with our nation’s defences.
“Only Rishi Sunak and the Conservatives can be trusted to protect our nuclear deterrent and stick to the plan to work with our Aukus allies to build the world’s most advanced nuclear submarines which will create thousands of jobs for people across the country and build a more secure world.”
