We have a clear vision for how to deal with a dangerous world.
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June 12, 2024 6:29 PM(Has been updated 6:47pm)
Today I challenge the Labour Party: give us a plan, give us a vision for how Britain faces the most dangerous and unstable world we’ve ever known.
Their leadership is divided on the crucial issue of nuclear deterrence, on which we are united. They do not set a deadline for increasing defence spending to 2.5% of GDP, whereas we are committed to doing so by 2030. This uncertainty means that Labour cannot campaign persuasively to get other NATO countries to increase their defence spending, but we can and will.
Either Labour has no plan for our security or it doesn’t understand the scale of the challenge we face. Neither is acceptable.
Across the world, democracy is in retreat and dictatorship is on the rise. Hostile forces are openly challenging the values we hold dear. They are attacking our ships in the Red Sea and waging war in Europe. We have a clear vision for how to deal with a dangerous world, yet Keir Starmer seems oblivious to the red lights flashing on his dashboard.
Our nuclear deterrent is a great example. Not only have many members of his leadership team consistently voted against Trident, but his own deputy leader, Angela Rayner, has said she has not changed her mind since the last time she voted against Trident renewal.
Labour has been unable to agree on policy on Trident but it has backed up strong words with bold action: building four new Dreadnought class submarines and investing around £800 million in its nuclear technology base with private companies.
Starmer is saying what I think people want to hear right now on nuclear weapons, but until recently he campaigned on Jeremy Corbyn’s anti-nuclear manifesto, and given his record on everything else I don’t believe he’ll back out again.
This Conservative Government has fostered new partnerships around the world and strengthened relationships with long-standing allies.
We were the first country to send Ukraine long-range weapons and modern tanks, and we have committed £3 billion in military assistance to Ukraine this year, and will continue this level of support at least until the end of the decade, or for as long as necessary.
We have degraded the Houthis’ capabilities and defended freedom of navigation in the Red Sea. We have activated AUKUS, signed the Hiroshima Accord with Japan, and want to sign new defense treaties with Germany and Poland.
For reasons known only to the Labour leadership, they have so far failed to live up to their commitments on our defence spending.
In times of danger and uncertainty, not having a plan means not having trust. In today’s world, not claiming anything is not an option.
A secure future will always be important. But now it feels like that future is in jeopardy unless we ourselves take proactive steps to make it safe. This requires a vision to understand the challenges ahead and a clear plan to address them. Rishi Sunak has both. Keir Starmer has neither.
Defence Secretary Grant Shapps