Watching a nuclear submarine being built is a humbling experience. It takes some of our finest engineers harnessing the world's most cutting-edge technology, all in an extremely high-security environment.
I'm proud that today I'll be the first Labour Party leader in over 30 years to visit the shipyard of Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, to see these incredible boats being built. And in the face of rising global threats and growing Russian aggression, I'm proud to confirm to Mail readers that Labour's commitment to our nuclear deterrent is total.
Visiting the historic Barrow site today, I want to personally thank the Royal Navy personnel, the workers and the apprentices who are building Dreadnought: the next generation of Britain's nuclear deterrent. Arriving in the town yesterday, I felt the weight of history here. The generations of families who have worked to defend our country, and the scale of the decisions taken by past political leaders.
Though they led two opposing parties, Winston Churchill and Clement Attlee stood shoulder to shoulder in the face of Nazi Germany.
And although Attlee led a change of government to Labour in 1945, there was no change in commitment to Britain's national security.
Sir Keir will be the first Labour Party leader in over 30 years to visit the shipyard of Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria
Nowhere is that clearer than in the development of Britain's nuclear deterrent. Building on Churchill's wartime legacy it was Attlee – and his foreign secretary Ernest Bevin – who first established our independent British nuclear programme. Meanwhile, Bevin was helping to create the Nato alliance.
Alongside the creation of our NHS, these are towering achievements of that Labour government which have defined modern Britain. They are a proud part of my party's heritage. And they remain so vital today.
Vladimir Putin's savage invasion of Ukraine, and his hatred of Western democracy, shows why a strong Nato and a strong UK nuclear deterrent are both essential.
So I want to be crystal clear to Mail readers. My commitment to Nato and the UK's nuclear deterrent – maintained on behalf of Nato allies – is unshakeable. Absolute. Total. The changed Labour Party that I lead knows that our national security always comes first. You can see that in the rising numbers of candidates and five-fold increase in Labour members from the Armed Forces community.
Our actions will speak louder than words. That's why I'm announcing today that if we are privileged to serve in government, my Labour Party will put in place a nuclear deterrent triple lock as the bedrock of our plan to keep Britain safe. And we'll ensure our investment in Britain's defence supports British jobs first.
First, we will make a cast-iron commitment to build all four new Dreadnought nuclear subs here in the UK, in Barrow-in-Furness. British investment, supporting skilled British jobs and boosting British communities.
Royal Navy personnel, workers and apprentices are building Dreadnought - the next generation of Britain's nuclear deterrent
Second, we will pledge to maintain Britain's continuous at sea nuclear deterrent. Backing our brave submariners who sacrifice a normal life to keep us safe 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Third, we'll promise to deliver all future upgrades needed. We'll ensure our nuclear deterrent is properly equipped and armed to face the challenges of the decades to come.
Make no mistake, this is a generational, multi-decade commitment. Not only is this about defending our land and our Nato allies, it's also defending our economy – prioritising British jobs, British skills and much-needed economic growth here on our shores.
I want to see more homegrown involvement in the nuclear submarine supply chain – and our wider defence manufacturing. With Labour, the defence industry will be hardwired into my national mission to drive economic growth across the UK.
Beyond Barrow, more than 1,500 firms across the length and breadth of the UK help supply the Dreadnought submarine programme. But I believe we can do better. We'll direct British defence investment first to British businesses. We'll ensure as much of our defence equipment as possible is designed and built in the UK.
Sir Keir wants to see more homegrown involvement in the nuclear submarine supply chain – and our wider defence manufacturing
And we'll set the bar higher for any decisions to buy abroad – making sure it's not just how much you spend, but how well you spend it.
In addition to our powerful nuclear triple-lock, a Labour government I lead would offer new UK leadership within the AUKUS defence alliance. Labour fully backs this historic agreement between Britain, Australia and the USA and we will ensure it delivers for Britain.
So we will fully back the building of AUKUS nuclear submarines here in Barrow for decades to come. And we'll throw our weight behind other AUKUS programmes to make this national endeavour a success for Britain. Because AUKUS has the potential to be a game-changer – not only defending our shared interests, but ramping up local jobs and growth in communities across the UK.
My changed Labour Party is utterly committed to our nation's defence, to our Armed Forces and to the great British companies and workers who supply them.
I wish I could say the same for this Conservative Government.
But over 14 years of failure, the Conservatives have hollowed out our Armed Forces, leaving our Army at its smallest size since Napoleon. Their defence procurement failures have wasted over £15billion of taxpayers' money. They are failing British troops and British taxpayers.
Don't just take it from me. The Conservatives' own former defence secretary and former defence minister have both slammed their party's record. They rightly argue the Government has failed to prepare for this era of global instability.
I'm sorry to say that the Churchillian bulldog spirit has disappeared from this modern Tory party. We need a robust, honest appraisal of the state of our Armed Forces. What we have is a Prime Minister with his head in the sand.
My changed Labour Party will never shut its eyes to the threats our country faces.
We will back our Armed Forces. We will back our nuclear deterrent. We will back Britain.
