Starmer moves to ramp up Britain’s defences as ministers go to war over costs
A DOZEN new attack submarines are planned as Britain moves to a war footing — but ministers are still battling over cash.
The UK’s nuclear warhead programme will also be bolstered, with Defence Secretary John Healey yesterday saying the deterrent is “what Putin fears most”.
PM Sir Keir Starmer will today point to increasing global tensions as he publishes the long-awaited Strategic Defence Review.
It will involve “moving to war-fighting readiness” by ramping up munitions, buying 7,000 long-range weapons and creating a new cyber command centre.
But the blueprint has been embroiled in a Cabinet row over money amid fears Chancellor Rachel Reeves might not fund the promised three per cent of GDP on defence by 2034.
The PM will say on a trip to Scotland: “From the supply lines to the front lines, this Government is four-square behind the men and women upholding our freedom and security.”
Up to 12 nuclear-powered subs will be built under the AUKUS security partnership with the US and Australia.
They are conventionally-armed with Tomahawk missiles and are mainly used as intelligence gatherers, lurking off hostile coastlines to intercept communications.
Our nuclear deterrent has been the ultimate guarantee of security in this country
John Healey
They can also deploy special forces and drones.
Sir Keir will say a separate £15billion nuclear warheads boost will guarantee the UK’s continuous at-sea deterrent until 2030 and protect 9,000 jobs.
Mr Healey told the BBC yesterday: “Our nuclear deterrent has been the ultimate guarantee of security in this country.
“It’s what Putin fears most.
“And we are the only nation in Nato that commits our nuclear deterrent, in full, to the defence of other Nato allies.”
The Strategic Defence Review — carried out by ex-Nato Secretary General Lord Robertson — makes 62 recommendations.
But a dust-up is brewing after Labour said the three per cent funding promise was a mere “ambition” if the economy allowed.
Mr Healey appeared to try to bounce Ms Reeves into coughing up by saying: “I have no doubt that we’ll hit that ambition during the next Parliament.”
Yet he noticeably did not say, when pressed, if he had cast-iron assurances.
Tories want the target hit before the next election.
Shadow Defence Secretary James Cartlidge said: “John Healey has been hung out to dry by Rachel Reeves.
“As recently as Thursday, Healey promised that defence spending would definitely hit three per cent, but today he’s completely backtracked.”
Labour also appear to be welching on pledges to reverse the 10,000 cut to troop numbers under the Tories.
Mr Healey admitted it would only come in the “next Parliament”.
He added: “We’ve still got more people leaving than joining. The first job is to reverse that trend.”
It had been reported he had hoped to secure £2.5billion to increase troop numbers to 76,000.
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