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Investment in the UK’s nuclear submarine programme is expected to safeguard national security for many years while also supporting tens of thousands of jobs and apprenticeships, according to Prime Minister Andy Burnham. Ahead of his visit to Barrow-in-Furness, where four new Dreadnought-class submarines are under construction, Burnham emphasized that security depends not only on the assets being built but also on the people involved in their production and the communities that benefit.
The replacement project, which aims to succeed the existing Vanguard-class submarines, has recently secured £8.4 billion to advance the readiness of these new vessels. The Vanguard submarines, operating since 1992 and equipped with Trident missiles, are set to be retired in the 2030s, the same period the Dreadnoughts will enter service. This programme, initially launched by former Prime Minister Tony Blair in 2006 and formally approved by Parliament in 2016, has now entered its fourth phase with the fresh allocation of funds.
Much of the £63.6 billion budget outlined in the Defence Investment Plan, released during the final part of Keir Starmer’s administration, is dedicated to sustaining the Defence Nuclear Enterprise over the next four years. Approximately £47 billion will focus on maintaining the submarine fleet, progressing the Dreadnought project, initiating work on future replacements, and modernizing naval facilities and manufacturing capabilities. Burnham highlighted how such spending supports around 47,000 jobs today, with projections indicating this number could increase to 65,000 by 2030, including 22,000 apprenticeships.
Burnham has linked the defence spending to economic growth and social benefits, especially in areas like Barrow-in-Furness, which had been economically neglected for decades. He has pledged to meet NATO’s defence spending target of 3.5% of national income by 2035, a commitment that he and Chancellor John Healey will need to finance amid competing budget priorities. Additionally, Burnham plans to introduce a stronger emphasis on social value in public contracts, particularly favoring businesses that offer 45-day work placements, a policy inspired by his experience managing similar initiatives as Greater Manchester mayor. However, specific details about how these changes will be implemented or the scale of their impact remain unclear
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