UK

RED TORY

Starmer says he is prepared to use nuclear weapons
Sam Francis - Political Reporter
Mon, June 3, 2024 

Sir Keir Starmer has said he would be prepared to use nuclear weapons if needed to defend the UK as he set out Labour's defence plans.

The Labour leader said "security will always come first" under his leadership and claimed his party has left behind Jeremy Corbyn's opposition to the Trident nuclear weapons system.

If elected, Sir Keir said he would increase defence spending and update the UK's nuclear arsenal.

Conservative defence secretary Grant Shapps said Labour represented a "danger to our national security".

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He called Labour's pledge to protect the nuclear deterrent "meaningless", given a dozen of Labour's current front bench team voted against renewing Trident in 2016 under Mr Corbyn, including shadow foreign secretary David Lammy and deputy Labour leader Angela Rayner.

At the time, Mr Lammy cited his Christian faith when explaining why he voted against it.

"Uncertain times call for a clear plan and bold action to chart a course to a secure future, only the Conservatives offer that," Mr Shapps said.

The Labour party was split when the House of Commons last voted to renew the UK's Trident nuclear weapons system, with 140 of the party's 230 MPs defying leader Mr Corbyn to back the motion.

But Sir Keir - who did vote to renew Trident - claimed he had his "whole shadow cabinet behind me" on plans to maintain the nuclear deterrent.

"This is a changed Labour party and the most important thing is I voted in favour of a nuclear deterrent," he said.

"I lead from the front, I've always lad from the front."

Asked by BBC Political Editor Chris Mason, if he would authorise the firing of nuclear weapons if he was prime minister, Sir Keir said: "We have to be prepared to use it.

"Now, nobody who aspires to be prime minister would set out the circumstances in which it would be used. That would be irresponsible.

"But it is there as a part, a vital part, of our defence."

Sir Keir used his speech to recommit Labour to boosting UK defence spending to 2.5% of GDP - without setting a deadline. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has vowed to hit the target by 2030 if re-elected.

"Keeping our country safe is the bedrock of stability that the British people rightly expect from their government," Sir Keir said.

He committed Labour to a "nuclear triple lock": continuing to build four new nuclear submarines in Barrow-in-Furness, maintaining Britain's at-sea deterrent, and delivering all future upgrades for submarine patrols.

The Trident system, based near the Firth of Clyde, includes four nuclear-powered Vanguard-class submarines, missiles and warheads.

Each submarine is designed to carry 16 Trident missiles, capable of delivering multiple warheads - but in recent years, they have carried eight missiles each, with a maximum of 40 warheads per boat.

The UK is already in the process of building four new nuclear submarines in Barrow in-Furness at a cost of £31bn over the lifetime of the programme. The country maintains a continuous at sea nuclear deterrent with its existing fleet.

The Conservatives have also commitment to continue this polices as well as delivering future upgrades.

SNP Spokesman Martin Docherty-Hughes said: "In the middle of a cost-of-living crisis, it is objectively wrong that Keir Starmer would funnel billions of pounds of public money into keeping weapons of mass destruction on our doorstep in Scotland, while families are still living in poverty after 14 years of Tory austerity, and our budget from the UK government keeps getting slashed.

"Nuclear weapons have no place in Scotland, and only a vote for the SNP in July will protect Scotland's interest against the Labour and Tories - neither of whom will do what the people in Scotland want and scrap Trident nuclear weapons for good."

In another break from Mr Corbyn's leadership, Sir Keir used his speech to push for the UK to assume a "leading" role in Nato.

Sir Keir's predecessor criticised Nato's role and expansion, particularly in conflicts he found unjust - though did not push for the UK to leave.

These positions led to accusations from its opponents that Labour was weak on national security during Mr Corbyn's tenure.​

Sir Keir also announced he would keep a dedicated veterans minister in his cabinet if Labour wins election. The standalone role was created under Boris Johnson but later dropped and then restored by Rishi Sunak.

Ahead of his speech, Sir Keir unveiled a "record" 14 ex-military candidates, which he said "is evidence of a changed Labour Party".

In recent years, armed forces veterans have been rare among Labour's MPs.

In the last parliament only two Labour MPs had military service - Dan Jarvis, who served 16 years in the Parachute Regiment, and Clive Lewis who reached the rank of Lieutenant in the Territorial Army.

The ex-military candidates announced by Labour include:

Al Carns, a Royal Marines colonel who stepped down from the military last week


Calvin Bailey, a former Royal Air Force commanding officer


Neil Guild, who served in the British Army for more than six years and now works as a civil engineer


Louise Jones, a former army intelligence officer.

Speaking on Monday, Ms Jones, the Labour candidate in North East Derbyshire, said: "Labour has national security at its core. Our commitment to Nato is unshakable.

"Only labour recognises the duty we have as a nation to our armed forces, only Labour has the leader we can fully trust with our national security and only Labour will put this country first."


UK's Starmer seeks to reassure voters with defence pledge

Updated Mon, June 3, 2024 


British Labour Party campaigns across the country in the lead up to the election

By Elizabeth Piper

LONDON (Reuters) -British opposition leader Keir Starmer pledged on Monday to secure the country's armed forces and nuclear deterrent, trying to reassure voters before an election that the nation would be safe in the hands of a Labour government.

Describing Labour as the "party of national security", Starmer turned his campaign focus to defence, seen as a weak spot for Britain's main opposition party under his predecessor, Jeremy Corbyn, a long-time supporter of nuclear disarmament.

With conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza, defence is taking centre stage before the July 4 election. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said last month that only his Conservative Party could keep voters safe in an increasingly dangerous world.

Standing in front of 14 former military Labour candidates, Starmer told an audience: "The people of Britain need to know that their leaders will keep them safe - and we will."

"This Labour Party is totally committed to the security of our nation, to our armed forces and, importantly, to our nuclear deterrent."

He made a commitment to a so-called "nuclear deterrent triple lock" - constructing four new nuclear submarines, maintaining a continuous at-sea deterrent and the delivery of all future upgrades needed for those submarines.

Even though Labour is far ahead in the polls, officials say they still need to convince thousands of undecided voters to back what Starmer repeatedly calls a "changed party", one which can be trusted on defence, health and tackling immigration.

The Conservatives believe they have a stronger defence offering, with a pledge to increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP a year by 2030 - a target Labour says it wants to match "as soon as possible".

The Labour leader was again asked about his party's stance on the Gaza conflict, after Labour has struggled to hold on to the support of some Muslim voters in local elections.

"The best thing ... for everybody concerned is to press for that ceasefire immediately, straightaway," he said. "That has been our position for weeks and weeks and weeks and months."

(Reporting by Elizabeth Piper; Editing by Susan Fenton and Alex Richardson)

Keir Starmer marches his troops onto traditional Tory territory in battle for best party on defence

Nicholas Cecil and Richard Wheeler
Mon, June 3, 2024 


Sir Keir Starmer arguing that Labour is the better party on defence (PA Wire)

Sir Keir Starmer marched his troops onto traditional Tory territory in an election battle over which party is better on defence.

He pitched Labour as the “party of national security”, contrasting the party’s position now compared to the Corbyn years.

The Labour leader was expected to meet with forces veterans and a group of his party’s candidates when he campaigns in the North West of England on Monday.

Sir Keir reaffirmed his commitment to a “nuclear deterrent triple lock” as well as his ambition to increase defence spending to 2.5 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP), a measure of the size of the economy.

No longer the party of protest, Labour is the party of national security

Sir Keir Starmer

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has made clear he wants to meet the 2.5 per target by 2030.

But Labour has so far declined to outline its timeline, only noting they would do so when economic conditions allow.

Labour says its nuclear deterrent triple lock involves: a commitment to construct the four new nuclear submarines in Barrow-in-Furness; maintaining Britain’s continuous at-sea deterrent; and the delivery of all future upgrades needed for the submarines to patrol the waters.

The Vanguard-class submarines are due to be replaced by the bigger Dreadnought-class submarines in the 2030s.

Between £31 billion and £41 billion has been set aside for the wider programme of replacing the Vanguard-class submarines, according to figures from the House of Commons Library.

Sir Keir has been attempting to shift perceptions of Labour’s defence stance following the party’s time under the leadership of Jeremy Corbyn, a long-standing critic of Nato and Trident.

Sir Keir said: “National security will always come first in the changed Labour Party I lead.

“Keeping our country safe is the bedrock of stability that the British people rightly expect from their government.

“My message to them is clear: Labour has changed. No longer the party of protest, Labour is the party of national security.

“The excellent former service personnel that are standing as Labour candidates are a testament to that change.”

He added: “In the face of increasing threats to national security, actions will speak louder than words.

“That’s why, alongside our unshakeable commitment to Nato, an incoming Labour government will introduce a ‘triple lock’ commitment on our nuclear deterrent – providing vital protection for the UK and our Nato allies in the years ahead, as well as supporting thousands of high paying jobs across the UK.”

The Tories have normally been ahead in polls on which party is best for defence of the nation, and some still show it leading Labour while it is behind on a string of other issues including the economy, NHS, tax and sometimes immigration.

Defence Secretary Grant Shapps said: “Twelve members of Starmer’s front bench team, including Angela Rayner and David Lammy, voted against Trident.

“We know Rayner is now making the decisions in Labour, so Starmer’s supposed backing for Trident is meaningless.

“Labour’s refusal to commit to 2.5% defence spending by 2030 shows that they are a danger to our national security. Uncertain times call for a clear plan and bold action to chart a course to a secure future, only the Conservatives offer that.”