Barrow to lead new era of national security

The prime minister is set to announce that Barrow is a blueprint for how defence spending can boost communities up and down the country, following asking the King to confer the ‘Royal’ title to the Port of Barrow as a recognition of the town’s unique and critical contribution to national security.

This afternoon, the prime minister will lay the keel to the first boat of a new generation of nuclear armed submarines, known as the Dreadnought class, which will be the future of nuclear deterrent and protect the country from extreme threats to national security.

This initiative will support an expected 30,000 jobs up and down the country, and Barrow will also play a vital role in delivering the AUKUS programme, which is a joint mission between Australia, the United States, and the UK. The first SSN-AUKUS attack submarines are being built the BAE Systems site in Barrow.

This follows an announcement by the prime minister last months that the government is to increase defence spending to 2.5 per cent GDP from 2027, equating to a £13.4 billion defence boost.

A series of investment packages will also be delivered to Barrow to benefit the wider community, such as a £28 million funding package for T-Levels.

Defence secretary John Healey said: “Today’s keel laying is a demonstration of our government delivering for defence and fulfilling our first duty: to keep the British people safe.

“Our triple lock pledge for Britain’s nuclear deterrent will see all four Dreadnought-class submarines built in Royal Barrow — a generational commitment that is transforming this town. The is one of the most complex projects ever undertaken in this country, representing the very best of British engineering.

“Our commitment to the nuclear deterrent is unshakeable — it is the ultimate guarantor of our national security and the security of our NATO allies. And this national endeavour is also an engine for jobs and growth in Barrow and beyond.”