All parties should match Starmer’s defence procurement pledge

Prospect has responded to the commitment by Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer to spend more money on defence and ”set the bar high for decisions to spend abroad”.

Mike Clancy, Prospect General Secretary, said:

“Prospect have been campaigning for many years to deliver more defence spending, and for more of that spending to deliver skilled jobs here in the UK.

“We have a world-leading workforce in the defence sector, which delivers jobs and growth for communities up and down the country.

“By committing that more of this money will be spent in the UK, we support both our armed forces and this vital workforce, and we hope all parties will match this pledge.”

Last year Prospect published a report, Design, Build and Maintain: Effective Defence Procurement, arguing for fundamental reform of defence procurement. It set out how to change the rules and regulations governing procurement to make it more effective and prioritise the promotion and protection of the UK’s sovereign capabilities in defence.

Sir Keir Starmer set out his commitment in an opinion piece for the Daily Mail:

“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.

“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.”

Prospect wants to see the same types of commitments from all political parties ahead of this year’s expected UK general election.