Burnham puts Trident at heart of defence revival as £8.4bn boost backs Britain's nuclear future

Prime Minister Andy Burnham has placed the renewal of Britain's Trident nuclear deterrent at the centre of his plans to rebuild UK industry, unveiling the next stage of the Dreadnought submarine programme during a visit to Barrow-in-Furness.

Burnham said major defence projects would not only strengthen national security but also revive manufacturing communities, arguing that investment in Britain's defence industry should deliver lasting economic benefits across the country.

Billions committed to next phase

The government announced a new £8.4 billion package of contracts as part of the long-running £31 billion Dreadnought programme, which will replace the Royal Navy's ageing Vanguard-class nuclear submarines.

According to Downing Street, the latest investment will support around 18,000 additional jobs by 2030 and create 22,000 new apprenticeships by 2035, expanding Britain's nuclear defence workforce.

Speaking ahead of the visit, Burnham 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."

He added that the programme would help create opportunities for young people entering skilled engineering and manufacturing careers.

A clear break from Labour's past divisions

The announcement also reinforces Burnham's support for Britain's independent nuclear deterrent.

He voted in favour of renewing Trident in 2016, when Labour was deeply divided over the issue and then-party leader Jeremy Corbyn opposed replacing the submarines.

Several senior members of Burnham's current Cabinet, including Defence Secretary Wes Streeting and Chancellor John Healey, also backed renewal, although some senior Labour figures previously voted against the programme.

Defence spending remains under scrutiny

Since entering Downing Street just over a week ago, Burnham has reaffirmed Britain's commitment to NATO's target of increasing defence spending to 3.5% of GDP by 2035.

However, he stopped short of promising defence spending would reach 3% of GDP by 2030, despite calls from Healey before becoming Chancellor for an earlier increase.

Burnham said the government remained committed to meeting its NATO obligations while acknowledging difficult spending decisions lay ahead.

Britain's nuclear backbone

The UK's nuclear enterprise currently supports around 47,000 jobs, including 13,500 at BAE Systems' Barrow shipyard, where the Dreadnought submarines are being assembled.

The latest contracts include a £5.9 billion award to BAE Systems to complete construction of the first four submarines, with HMS Dreadnought expected to enter service in the early 2030s.

The wider programme also supports around 9,000 employees at the Atomic Weapons Establishment sites in Berkshire, where Britain's nuclear warheads are designed and maintained, while a further 4,000 workers at Rolls-Royce in Derby build the nuclear reactors that power the Royal Navy's submarine fleet.

A strategic investment despite mounting costs

The Dreadnought programme remains one of the largest and most expensive defence projects in British history.

Alongside its £31 billion budget, the project includes a £10 billion contingency fund to cover potential cost overruns and has previously been placed on an amber watch list by government procurement monitors because of its scale and complexity.

Despite the cost, Burnham is presenting Trident renewal as both a cornerstone of Britain's national security and a long-term investment in industrial renewal, arguing that defence spending can simultaneously strengthen the armed forces and rebuild skilled employment across the UK.

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He's wasting his time.

Nobody will waste a perfectly good nuclear missile on Britain once Burnham has finished with it. It would be the equivalent of throwing a stink bomb at a tonne of cow manure.

Do something useful Andrew, call a general election to seek the mandate you require for your position.

The Messiah' of the north has some magic money beans and they're made of rubber 🤔

47 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

He's wasting his time.

Nobody will waste a perfectly good nuclear missile on Britain once Burnham has finished with it. It would be the equivalent of throwing a stink bomb at a tonne of cow manure.

Do something useful Andrew, call a general election to seek the mandate you require for your position.

Not at all bitter then Jonny?

3 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Not at all bitter then Jonny?

What a meaningless, trolling post from you again Higgot.

Just pointing out that Burnham has no mandate and needs to follow his own words and call for a general election like he did when the Tories changed leader.

The property tax dodger Rayner also called for it. She's gone quiet now she's the housing minster.

You lot are a bunch of lying crooks. 😄

At least you've stopped pretending to have the moral high ground though...

38 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

What a meaningless, trolling post from you again Higgot.

Just pointing out that Burnham has no mandate and needs to follow his own words and call for a general election like he did when the Tories changed leader.

The property tax dodger Rayner also called for it. She's gone quiet now she's the housing minster.

You lot are a bunch of lying crooks. 😄

At least you've stopped pretending to have the moral high ground though...

Burnham is the PM of the Labour Government that win the last election.

He has that mandate.

Perhaps you should read up on how UK Government works.

Labour’s commitment to the UK’s nuclear deterrent is clearly stated in the 2024 Labour Manifesto, and therefore the Government does have a mandate on the matter:

Our commitment to the UK’s nuclear deterrent is absolute.

it is a vital safeguard for the UK and our NATO allies.”

14 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Burnham is the PM of the Labour Government that win the last election.

He has that mandate.

Perhaps you should read up on how UK Government works.

Yet he called for an election when the Tories changed leader.😄

Hardly a man of principle.

16 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

Yet he called for an election when the Tories changed leader.😄

Hardly a man of principle.

Perhaps you expected more, but I can assure you that Burnham is as much a politician as all the others.

4 minutes ago, brewsterbudgen said:

Perhaps you expected more, but I can assure you that Burnham is as much a politician as all the others.

Like most of the country I had no idea what to expect since he didn't stand on the Labour manifesto at the last election, refused to answer questions and there was no leadership contest.

Yet here he is - leading the country. 😄

11 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

Like most of the country I had no idea what to expect since he didn't stand on the Labour manifesto at the last election, refused to answer questions and there was no leadership contest.

Yet here he is - leading the country. 😄

And he has got off to a good start. Why not judge him on his results. You'll get the chance at the next election.

15 minutes ago, brewsterbudgen said:

And he has got off to a good start. Why not judge him on his results. You'll get the chance at the next election.

Refusing to answer questions until being installed by the coup leaders, then giving out a few meaningless freebies and vague promises is not what I call a good start.

Reminds me a lot of Prayut actually.

2 hours ago, JonnyF said:

Yet he called for an election when the Tories changed leader.😄

Hardly a man of principle.

That’s politics and politicking Jonny.

14 hours ago, Chomper Higgot said:

That’s politics and politicking Jonny.

No.

That's hypocrisy, Higgot.

So what’s the actual objection to Burnham upholding the Labour Manifesto commitments to the UK’s Nuclear Deterrent?

4 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

No.

That's hypocrisy, Higgot.

Nah, the Tories were failing, Labour clearly isn’t.

7 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Nah, the Tories were failing, Labour clearly isn’t.

I'd say you're clearly either on another planet, or some psychadelic substance, Higgot.

However, in reality you are simply gaslighting again. 🥱

2 hours ago, JonnyF said:

I'd say you're clearly either on another planet, or some psychadelic substance, Higgot.

However, in reality you are simply gaslighting again. 🥱

Like as if this was the product of a mind attached to reality;

21 hours ago, JonnyF said:

He's wasting his time.

Nobody will waste a perfectly good nuclear missile on Britain once Burnham has finished with it. It would be the equivalent of throwing a stink bomb at a tonne of cow manure.

Do something useful Andrew, call a general election to seek the mandate you require for your position.

Got any more of them psychedelics? Nuclear war will be really trippy!